Senate to scrutinize increase in intel's 2013 budget

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate committee on finance will proceed with its original plan to scrutinize the increase in the budget of government intelligence units as the budget hearings were cancelled last week due to heavy rains.

Based on the media advisory from the panel chaired by Senator Franklin Drilon, the National Security Council will kick off the budget hearings this week, as it defends its proposed 2013 budget of P109.55 million, 45.19 percent higher than its current budget of P75.45 million.

Also, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) is expected to present details of its proposed budget of P491.32 million budgets – net of automatic appropriation – an increase of 7.8 percent from its current appropriation of P458.62 million.

Similarly, the Philippine Dangerous Drug Board (PDDB) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will also lay out their proposed spending in 2013 which aligns with their mandates to solve problems on illegal drugs.

PDDB has proposed to receive P170.84 million for 2013, P69.83 million below its current budget. On the other hand, PDEA will get an increase of P175.69 million, or PP755.46 million, from its 2012 budget of P579.78 million.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DAF) is set to face the committee on Tuesday to defend its proposed budget of P11.55 billion, net of automatic appropriation, which is 5.71 percent higher than its 2012 budget of P10.92 billion.

Finally, the President’s communication units will present their proposed appropriations on Wednesday. Presidential Communication Operation Office is seeking P1.25 billion in 2013 from P1.05 billion in 2012, while the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office has proposed to get P68.72 million from P53.3 million this year. 

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