House of Representatives (PPAB)

Citing the "escalating threats in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)", ranking members of the House of Representatives have made a "collective decision" to reallocate confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) that were originally earmarked for department and agencies not directly related to protecting the country’s safety and security. 

“We have decided to reallocate — as part of the budget process — confidential and intelligence funds to other agencies chiefly responsible for intelligence and surveillance," read the ranking solons' joint statement released on Wednesday morning, Sept. 27. 

They identified these intelligence and surveillance agencies as the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), National Security Council (NSC), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). 

“Recognizing the rising security threats in the West Philippine Sea and the need to secure top officials, these agencies are better positioned to counteract security threats, protect our territorial waters, and secure the rights and access of Filipino fishermen to traditional fishing grounds,” they said. 

The China Coast Guard (CCG) recently installed a floating barrier in the Southeast of Bajo de Masinloc, a traditional fishing ground of Filipinos. 

"This action not only impedes the rights and livelihoods of our Filipino fishermen but also disrupts the prevailing atmosphere of regional peace and collaboration," the joint statement read. 

The joint statement was signed by Rizal 1st district Rep. Michael John Duavit, president, Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC); Agusan del Norte 1st district Rep. Jose "Joboy" Aquino II, secretary general, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD); Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus "Budoy" Madrona of the Nacionalista Party (NP); Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel, vice president for Mindanao, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban); Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, president, National Unity Party NUP); and Barangay Health & Wellness (BHW) Partylist Rep. Angelica Natasha Co, representing the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI).

House Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto had called China's latest action in the WPS as a "food blockade" against the Philippines. 

The CIFs--considered special lump sum funds--will now be used to augment the budgets of security agencies tasked to address escalating threats in the WPS. However, the joint statement didn't specify the departments or agencies that will be stripped of their CIFs. 

A substantial amount of the reallocated fund will go to NICA and NSC. 

NICA is the leading intelligence collector of the national government which directs, coordinates and integrates all intelligence activities, both foreign and domestic, concerning national security. The NSC, on the other hand, is the principal advisory body on the proper coordination and integration of plans and policies affecting national security. 

Aside from NICA and the NSC, the House leadership also decided to augment the 2024 spending plan of the PCG and  BFAR to boost their capacity and capability in surveillance and security over the WPS. 

CIFs in the proposed P5.768-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2024--the precursor of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) amount to P9.2 billion. 

The confidential funds amount to P4.3 billion, while the intelligence funds are at P4.9 billion.

The House intends to approve the 2024 GAB on third and final reading during Wednesday's plenary session.

The propriety of the usage of CIFs across the bureaucracy has been a major talking point in this year's budget deliberations.