Three cheers for the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Asked by senators during budget deliberations if the DFA was asking for confidential funds, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said no.
How many other heads of agencies can do the same will indicate the level of commitment to transparency under Marcos 2.0.
Giving public officials wide discretion in the use of people’s money is always risky. During the Arroyo administration, part of her contingency fund was tapped when the expenses for her globe-trotting exceeded the allocated budget. Yesterday, the House of Representatives approved its version of the 2024 appropriations bill, stripping the OVP of confidential funds.
Contingency and confidential funds are two different animals, and not just in spelling; Lagman said contingent funds cannot be used for confidential purposes, especially when there isn’t even an item for confidential funds approved in an agency’s budget for the year. Citing growing threats in the West Philippine Sea, lawmakers are now realigning all confidential and intelligence funds or CIF for 2024 to the military, police, intelligence and state security agencies as well as the coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.It’s interesting that VP Sara’s letter requesting for the confidential funds was made public.
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