Noy retains P500-M intel fund

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino retains his P500-million intelligence fund in his proposed P3-trillion 2016 national budget, his sixth and last spending program.

Based on his budget proposal, Aquino will have P250 million for confidential expenses and another P250 million for intelligence expenses next year.

In deference to the President, the House of Representatives and the Senate do not inquire into how he uses his confidential and intelligence funds.

He is only required to submit to the Commission on Audit a certification stating in very general terms the purpose for which the money is used.

The P500 million is part of the nearly P2-billion appropriation for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for the Office of the President (OP).

Other big MOOE items include P313.2 million for travel, P298 million for repairs and maintenance, P162.8 million for supplies and materials and P139.3 million for representation.

The OP budget will increase by more than P200 million, from P2.602 billion this year to P2.860 billion next year.

Allocations for salaries, MOOE and capital outlay (CO) will all go up during Aquino’s last year in office.

Salaries will increase from P671.3 million to P805.7 million, while MOOE will go up from P1.911 billion to P1.957 billion. CO funds for next year will amount to P97 million, up from P20 million this year.

Like the OP budget, funding for the office of Vice President Jejomar Binay will increase from P226.5 million to P234.3 million.

Of the P234.3 million, P52.6 million will be for salaries, P179.7 million for MOOE and P2 million for capital outlay.

The biggest MOOE item in Binay’s budget is P88 million for “financial assistance or subsidy.” The Vice President uses this fund to give financial support to those asking for money or help from him.

His critics have labeled this fund as Binay’s pork barrel, which they said the Vice President could use to promote his presidential candidacy.

Apparently to deflect criticism, Binay told Yolanda survivors in a recent visit that the money he gave them came from his personal funds.

Aside from his subsidy fund, Binay will have P23.9 million for travel, which he could use during the election campaign, P14.2 million for the hiring of consultants, P15 million for representation and P6 million for communication expenses.

In contrast, his administration opponent, outgoing Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, will have no access to public funds once he leaves office.

Unlike Roxas, Binay is not required by law to resign.