No request from OVP, DepEd for special funds

THE House of Representatives yesterday received Malacañang’s proposed P6.352 trillion national budget for 2025, which included a lower allocation for the controversial confidential and intelligence funds (CIF).

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman turned over the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to House leaders led by Speaker Martin Romualdez, who vowed to scrutinize the proposal and have the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) approved before Congress goes on recess in October.

“As we receive this document today, we recognize the collective responsibility bestowed upon us as legislators to scrutinize, deliberate, and ensure that every peso is judiciously allocated and spent,” Romualdez said.

Under the NEP, the Palace’s CIF request for next year is down by 16 percent.

From P12 billion this year, the proposed budget for CIF of all departments and agencies has gone down to P10.2 billion for 2025.

The reduction in the amount of CIF that the Executive is asking from Congress came after Vice President Sara Duterte drew heavy flak during last year’s budget deliberations over her office’s P500 million confidential funds request and the P150 million asked by the Department of Education (DepEd), which she headed until earlier this month.

As announced by Duterte last month in Cebu City, the OVP did not request for confidential funds for 2025.

The DepEd, which was still under her when the proposed 2025 budget was still being crafted, also did not request for confidential funds for next year.

Out of the total P10.2 billion, the government earmarked P5.9 billion for intelligence expenses of the military and uniformed branches of government, an amount significantly lower than this year’s P8.267 billion.

For confidential expenses, which is the intelligence budget of civilian agencies, the government is asking for P4.36 billion, slightly higher than this year’s P4.111 billion.

The Office of the President’s proposed confidential fund is P2.25 billion in 2025, which is the same as this year’s budget, while its intelligence expenses was retained at P2.310 billion.

The Department of National Defense (DND), which has supervision over the AFP, has a lower proposed intelligence fund of P1.761 billion in 2025 from P2.8 billion this year, while its confidential expenses was retained at P87 million.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which supervises the PNP, is proposing P806.02 million in intelligence funds for 2025 from P906.029 million in 2024. It retained its confidential fund at P100.6 million.

The Speaker expressed confidence “that with the collaborative efforts of the executive and legislative branches, we will achieve a budget that not only meets the immediate needs of our people but also sets the stage for a more prosperous and equitable Philippines.”

Romualdez also said that job creation, quality education, expanded health care, and social protection are among the priorities of the House of Representations in allocating funds in the proposed 2025 national budget.

He thanked President Marcos Jr., Pangandaman, and the Department of Budget and Management “for their tireless efforts and dedication in crafting a budget that seeks to address the pressing needs of our people while laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity.”

The President submitted his 2025 budget proposal exactly a week after Congress opened its third and last regular session, or three weeks ahead of his one-month constitutional deadline.

Rep. Zaldy Co (PL, Ako Bicol), chair of the House committee on appropriations. said Congress will consider several key elements in evaluating the proposal, including the availability of fiscal resources, the readiness of programs and projects for execution, the agencies’ capacity to absorb funds, and alignment with spending priorities.

“We must ensure that every peso is directed towards initiatives that will uplift the lives of our fellow Filipinos, improve our infrastructure, strengthen our educational and healthcare systems, and secure our nation’s future,” he said.

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga said the new budget proposal is the first full-year spending measure to be covered by Republic Act No. 12009, or new Government Procurement Law, which he co-authored along with Romualdez.

“This legislation ushers in a new era of transparency, integrity, and accountability in our government’s procurement processes. It reflects our unwavering commitment to the Filipino people to ensure that every peso is spent wisely and responsibly,” Gonzales said.

In signing the law, the President said it would make public bidding in the country “at par with global best practices.”

He also said that under the law, government procurement “will be modern and innovative, more streamlined and efficient.”

RA No. 12009 introduces new modalities to achieve value for money, procurement efficiency, and quality public services. It modernizes procurement processes with the use of emerging technologies and innovative solutions, as well as integrated systems among relevant government agencies.

2025 BUDGET

Pangandaman said the 2025 budget, which is intended to support the administration in attaining economic and social transformation and guided by the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, is equivalent to 22 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The new budget proposal reflects a 10.1 percent increase from this year’s P5.768 trillion budget in 2024.

Per sector, education remains the top priority with an allocation of P977.6 billion, followed by public works with P900 billion, and health with P297.6 billion.

Fourth in the priority is interior and local government with P278.4 billion, and national defense, which was earmarked P256.1 billion “to uphold national security, modernize defense capabilities, and ensure the safety and sovereignty of the nation” amid China’s illegal incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

Social welfare was allocated P230.1 billion, agriculture with P211.3 billion, and transportation with P180.9 billion.

The judiciary is allocated P63.6 billion, while the Department of Justice got a P40.6 billion allocation.