'While we are in dire need of funds for hospitals, schools, and agencies with social services mandate, lucky agencies will receive a ballooned confidential and intelligence fund worth P10.14 billion,' an opposition lawmaker says
MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives passed on Wednesday, September 27, the spending plan of the Marcos administration for 2024, despite intense criticisms from the chamber’s minuscule opposition bloc.
Marcos’ certification of the measure as urgent allowed the House to approve the bill on second and third readings on the same day, bypassing the constitutional requirement that a bill be read on three separate days. The biggest development on the General Appropriations Bill just before it was approved was the decision of the House leadership toSara Duterte’s Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education of confidential funds, worth P650 million combined for 2024.
He did not make mention of any changes on the proposed P4.56 billion in confidential and intelligence funds of the Office of the President, which is nearly half of the Marcos administration’s proposed P10.1-billion CIF for next year.
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