Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara on Thursday dispelled claims that the slashed confidential and intelligence funds of several government agencies would be restored in the reconciled version of the 2024 General Appropriations Bill.
"I don't think so," Angara said when asked about the possible restoration of slashed secret funds after the bicameral panel kicked off its deliberations to reconcile the disagreeing provisions in their respective budget versions.
The bicameral conference committee formally convened to discuss the disagreeing provisions of the national budget for next year at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City.
Although citing cyber security issues, Angara said the bicameral conference committee is eyeing the restoration of P300 million worth of intelligence funds for the Department of Information and Communications Technology to combat cybercrimes.
"Because we know that sometimes war is not on the battlefield. It is no longer like before, someone can disable your cyber networks," he said.
Among the agencies whose proposed CIFs for the next fiscal year were turned down was the DICT.
Likewise, the House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co assured that the lower chamber's proposed confidential and intelligence funds that were earlier removed would not be restored.
