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Naniniwala ang mga mambabatas ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso na malaki ang maitutulong na mailipat ang binawing confidential funds na nakapaloob sa 2024 P5.768-trilyong General Appropriations Bill (GAB) sa kakayahan ng ‘security agencies’ na maipagtanggol at pangalagaan ang interes ng bansa sa West Philippine Sea.
Ito ang inihayag ni Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela sa ginanap na pagdinig sa House Special Committee on West Philippine Sea na pinamumunuan ni Mandaluyong City Lone District Representative Neptali Gonzales II.
“I think the intention of the House of Representatives and also with the Senate to boost our funding would definitely support our operational capability in performing our role in the WPS,” ayon kay Tarriela.
Unang iminungkahi ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez ang pagsasagawa ng pagdinig sa Kamara dahil sa paulit-ulit insidente ng panggigipit ng Chinese Coast Guard at militia vessels sa barko at mangingisda ng Pilipinas sa WPS.
“We called this meeting to serve as a platform for open dialogue, ensuring that we address the challenges head-on and work towards a peaceful, cooperative future in the [WPS],” ayon kay Gonzales na siya rin dating former deputy speaker at majority leader ng Kamara.
Umaasa din si Gonzales na maayos na magagamit ng mga security agencies ang ilalang special fund para sa susunod na taon.
“The budget for 2024 is still in progress…in the light of the fact that there was a decision of the House led by the honorable Speaker to realign certain confidential and intelligence fund of several agencies to concerns particularly of our capability and in protecting our right in the West Philippine Sea, may we suggest to you that as soon as possible, you communicate,” ayon pa sa mambabatas.
Bukod sa PCG, dumalo rin sa isinagawang pagdinig ang mga kinatawan mula sa Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), at National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS).
Sa nakalipas na budget deliberation, unang napagkasunduan ng Kamara na ilipat ang P1.23 billion sa confidential funds sa mga ahensyang mas nangangailangan ng pondo dulot na rin ng tumataas na tensyon sa WPS.
“The House of Representatives led by Speaker, Speaker Martin Romualdez, made a decision to re-prioritizatize or even realign certain items the budget, specifically the confidential funds of certain agencies to agencies that are more attuned or more concerned with national security, our national defense,” ayon naman kay Rizal 2nd district Rep. Emigdio Tanjuatco III.
Ang panukala ay sinang-ayunan din ni DND Undersecretary for Strategic Assessment and Planning Ignacio Madriaga lalo’t kinakailangan sa kasalukuyan ang karagdagang pondo upang pangalagaan at ipagtanggol ang mga karapatan ng bansa sa mga pag-aaring teritoryo.
Bukod sa Office of the Vice President at Department of Education, nagdesisyon ang Kamara na tanggalin din ang confidential fund saDepartments of Agriculture (DA), Foreign Affairs (DFA), at Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
