Despite unutilized confidential funds amounting to over P13 million this year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources maintained it will retain an additional P13 million in confidential funds for 2024.

Lawmaker Jose Alvarez of Palawan, the DENR's budget sponsor, contended before the House of Representatives that the agency will not forego next year's confidential funds, which, according to Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel, amounts to P13 million.

In 2023, the DENR had P13.95 million in confidential funds, which Alvarez disclosed remained unutilized.

"So far, Mr. Speaker, our new secretary has not used a single cent of the confidential funds," the sponsor said.

Manuel proposed it would be best that the DENR refrain from using the unutilized CIF and that the agency instead foster tighter coordination with law enforcement units as an alternative approach.

"That would justify confidential funds, Mr. Speaker," he said.

Manuel then suggested that if the DENR survived and operated without relying on the secret fund, it must forego next year's CF.

Notwithstanding the lack of utilization, Alvarez asserted that the CF sought by the DENR next would allow the agency to effectively carry out its mandate and operations.

"Mr. Speaker, your Honor, no. They need that. They need. And if so spent, I will ask them how they spent it with the report to [the] CoA (Commission on Audit). And I will give a copy to our Honorable Manuel," Alvarez said.

"DENR's confidential funds are small. It is used in the buying of information regarding the number one illegal logging, or everything illegal. That's what is being reported and gets paid. That has no receipt. If that's what you're referring to, Mr. Speaker. That whether there is a receipt or not," he said.

Citing COA-DBM (Department of Budget and Management) Joint Circular 2015-01, Manuel said the DENT could opt to submit documentary proof, such as a voucher or invoice to substantiate the utilization of funds.

According to Manuel, failure of the DENR to submit a receipt for using the CIF may potentially have detrimental consequences to the government.

"The important thing, Mr. Speaker, is that every expenditure must have proof of where it was spent. There can't be anything. If it is not a receipt, other alternatives will prove where it is actually used," Manuel said.