Or: "Thoughts after the current regime's 2024 budget
and its Confidential and Intelligence Funds"
By Kat Ulrike
Regardless of their statements, the Marcos-Duterte regime has managed to have confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) totaling PHP 5.277 billion and PHP 4.864 billion.
For just like its predecessor that uses "National Security" for an alibi, these Confidential and Intelligence Funds are rather used to consolidate their interests- that of filling their own pockets and that of its supporters, and to further attacks against the people.
However, this issue is more than just about CIFs. For as the current administration continues that of its predecessors in emphasising internal security over that of others, the budget for 2024 continues the trend of boosting military and infrastructure spending while cutting funds for social services and public needs. The budget for 2024 includes PHP 733.2 billion for "special purpose funds" under the Office of the President, PHP 977.6 billion for public works, highways, and transportation, and PHP 9.7 billion for NTF-ELCAC, while cutting PHP 6.16 billion from state universities and colleges, PHP 10.17 billion from the Department of Health, and other welfare services including fuel subsidies.
Quite obvious that the regime would certainly choose guns while claiming to be having funds for the butter; and if this writer recalls, their intentions makes yours truly think they have studied Miguel Coronel's "Pro-Democracy People's War" with all its "development packages" just to support counterinsurgency operations- yet by seeing budget thin slices for others such as agriculture, education, health, and social services, is their desire to win the peace attainable in the long term?
Trying to use "National Security" as an excuse
Currently, lawmakers talked about rechanneling CIFs to supposed agencies such as in the wake of tensions in West Philippine Sea. The Philippine Coast Guard for instance is in need of such funds for their activities, as well as that of the National Security Council and the National intelligence Coordinating Agency, but if one may recall, such agencies dealing with security did really talked about bolstering national defence to uphold national sovereignty especially in the face of tensions coming from its neighbours; but at the same time these security agencies are also known for using their funds to conduct illegal surveillance and harassment against unionists, mass leaders, and opposition personalities. If one may ask, which is their priority given that they got their needed funds? Is it to upheld national sovereignty against a big chauvinist power? Or by protecting a rotten social order on the basis on national security? They would talk about modernising the armed forces, with all the "much needed" military materiel mostly of handouts, but will these meant to protect the nation or the order that controls in it? Remember, these mostly are used against communities in counterinsurgency operations.
Big chunks for guns and 'safe houses',
Thin slices for books and schools
And since the admin pouring funds to national security and in piecemeal developments, health, social services, and education experienced cuts.
With a nearly PhP10 billion budget reduction in 2024, the Department of Health also takes a significant hit. Only 481 billion, or 8% of the total national budget, will be allocated to health overall. And institutions like the Philippine General Hospital, the Philippine Heart Center, the National Kidney & Transplant Institute, the Lung Center of the Philippines, and the Philippine Children's Medical Center would see funding cuts.
The "emergency assistance programs" of the Department of Social Work and Development, which provide aid to Filipinos in need, will also see an almost 28 billion peso reduction in funding.
And although true that the Department of Education has able to got a substantial budget, this rather allocated only to the office of the Education Secretary headed by nonetheless VP Duterte herself. But how about its attached agencies like the the National Book Development Board, National Council for Children’s Television, National Museum of the Philippines, Philippine High School for the Arts, Early Childhood Care and Development Council, and the National Academy of Sports? Even State Colleges and Universities got only a share of PHP 6.16 billion.
Other government departments like the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Labor and Employment, and even the Department of Migrant Workers got cuts in the national budget. With these cuts, or should say thin slices given to these departments, will these "win the peace" as what the current administration wanted?
"insidious reasons"?
“The success of a project, activity or program really depends on very good intelligence and surveillance because you want to target specific issues and challenges.”
In fact, contrary to these supporters claims, that "insidious reasons" is much more deserved in their idols rather than those who strongly disagree with their actions involving public funds- and such insidious reasons of theirs doesn't "win the peace" at all.