House Appropriations Committee chairperson Elizaldy Co (Photo courtesy of House Press and Public Affairs Bureau)

MANILA – The “small committee” formed by the House of Representatives to receive and resolve amendments to the proposed PHP5.768-trillion national budget for 2024 has until Oct. 10 to finish its task, a House leader said on Wednesday.

In a statement, House Appropriations Committee chairperson Elizaldy Co said the small committee held its first organizational meeting on Tuesday, noting that numerous budget items are lined up for amendments or realignment.

He said this includes the chamber’s plan to realign confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) of various civilian agencies to augment the budgets of intelligence and security forces tasked to address escalating threats in the West Philippine Sea.

“As authorized by the House and consistent with parliamentary precedent, the small committee has until Oct. 10, 2023 to finish its task. Since the proposed amendments are of great interest to media and the Filipino people, we shall announce the changes at the proper time,” Co said.

“In the meantime, please bear with us and allow us to perform our assigned tasks as mandated by the House of Representatives.”

Co earlier said the House would augment funding for the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, National Security Council, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to boost the country’s monitoring and operational capabilities in protecting the country’s territorial waters, and securing the rights and access of Filipino fishermen to their traditional fishing grounds.

Among those to be affected by the budget cuts are the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, which were allocated a combined amount of PHP650 million in CIFs under the 2024 National Expenditure Program.

On Sept. 27, the House approved on third and final reading House Bill 8980 or the 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) with a 296-3 vote with no abstentions.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the timely passage of the 2024 spending plan just before Congress adjourns for a month-long break not only demonstrated the commitment of the House to upholding its constitutional role but also underscored its dedication to serving the Filipino people with transparency and accountability.

“Pursuing the constitutional requirement of transparency, the House of Representatives has to shepherd the national expenditure program no matter the rigors and challenges along the way. These include difficult discussions on the confidential and intelligence funds, which the House successfully steered toward a healthy and vibrant exchange,” Romualdez said.

He lauded his colleagues for underscoring the need for agencies to abide by the strict accounting and auditing rules governing the handling and release of such funds and emphasized the need to safeguard its efficient and responsible utilization.

“As a result, the House was able to assess and evaluate the nature and use of these funds and correct any mix-ups and allay public concerns regarding this issue,” he said. (PNA)