Senate approves 2023 budget, slashing P152.67M in confidential funds

Photos shows of senators in opening of the 19th congress at the Senate on July 25, 2022.

STAR / Mong Pintolo

MANILA, Philippines — A unanimous Senate approved Wednesday the proposed P5.27 trillion budget for next year, realigning a small portion of nearly P4 billion in confidential funds to the operating budgets of various government agencies.

“We listened to the thoughts of our colleagues on hot issues. Because of this, we realigned a portion of confidential funds for the maintenance and other operating expenses of other agencies,” budget sponsor Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said on the floor in Filipino.

A total of around P152.67 million in confidential funds — or lump sum allocations for confidential expenses of civilian agencies — were cut, Angara said.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/11/23/2225938/senate-approves-2023-budget-slashing-p15267-confidential-funds