MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the President’s (OP) P10.707 billion budget for 2024 was approved by the Senate committee on finance on Wednesday.
Tucked in the proposed budget is P4.56 billion in confidential and intelligence funds, which the Senate committee also approved and retained.
OP’s requested allocation for next year is relatively higher than the P8.9 billion allocation of the office in 2023.
To recall, the office of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s proposed allocation for next year likewise breezed through the House committee on appropriations in early September.
Citing the “long-standing tradition of parliamentary courtesy” given to high-ranking officials, House committee members quickly terminated the deliberations on the budget, swiftly referring the proposed allocation to the plenary.
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