Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
In an assembly this morning at the UP SOLAIR, farmers joined various sectors in demanding for the full abolition of the confidential funds and to rechannel such funds to budget for agricultural subsidies and social services.
“Lubos kaming nababahala na mula P1.58 bilyon noong 2016, ang confidential at intelligence funds ay lumobo ng ilang ulit at umabot na sa P10.14 bilyon sa panukalang badyet ng 2024.
Pinakamalaki rito ay ang P4.61 bilyong CIF sa ilalim ng Office of the President (OP) at DA Secretary Ferdinand Marcos, at P650 milyon sa ilalim ng Office of the Vice President (OVP) at DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte na higit pa sa pinags amang CIF ng lahat ng national security at law enforcement agencies ng bansa,” according to the assembly’s manifesto.
“We strongly oppose the confidential use of public funds that came from the hard-earned taxes of the Filipino people. Such type of funds are like pork barrel funds that are lump sum and discretionary in nature and are unscrupulously spent without any form of check and balance, and auditing by the Commission on Audit. In 2022, in just 11 days, the OVP spent some P125 million that was illegally transferred from OP’s contigency funds to the OVP confidential funds. The abuse of the CIF worsened under the Duterte administration and was pursued by the Marcos Jr regime.
We call on legislators in Congress and Senate to abolish all types of confidential funds in the 2024 proposed national budget. We demand the rechanneling of such funds to much needed social services inluding health, free education, affordable housing, agricultural subsidies, among other more important needs. Sa halip na sa bulsa ng iilan, dapat mapunta ang pondo sa mataas na sahod at benepisyo ng mga guro, health workers at iba pang kawani ng gobyerno; subsidyo para sa maliliit na magsasaka, mangingisda at pagpapaunlad ng agrikultura; at iba pang kagyat na pangangailangan,” according to Rafael Mariano of the KMP.
KMP has earlier submitted its proposed budget amendments to the Committee on Appropriations in the Lower House and in Senate. The group is proposing additional budget for the National Food Authority (NFA) rice procurement program and production subsidies for farmers and fisherfolks.
“Kailangang panagutin ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno, mula lokal hanggang pambansa, na naglustay at nag-abuso ng kanilang mga CIF at iba pang kahalintulad na pondo. Hindi na ito dapat mauulit. Lalabanan namin ang sistematikong pagwawaldas at pandarambong sa kaban ng bayan lalu na sa pinakamatataas na antas ng pamamahala. Hinihikayat namin ang taumbayan na lumahok sa iba’t-ibang mga aktibidad at pagkilos upang makamit ang ating mga mithiin para sa tapat at mabuting pamamahala,” based on the Assembly’s manifesto. #
WATCH the livestream of Abolish Confidential Funds Assembly here- https://fb.watch/nUbeA9m7M-/?mibextid=Nif5oz
