President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday met Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla in Malacañang to discuss the result of the agency’s budget review under the Fiscal Year 2025 General Appropriations Act vis-à-vis the FY 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Remulla said the President wanted the fund removed by the bicam reverted to finance the important programs of DILG.

In a press briefing, Remulla said the DILG budget assessment showed a huge part of the agency’s budget was cut in the bicam.

These include the Enhancement of National Police Clearance System, or the payment of Police Clearance online under National Expenditure Program amounting PhP619 million, which was trimmed down to PhP232 million, or a cut of PhP386 million.

The Establishment of Safe Camp Security system also got a much lower allocation from the proposed PhP472 million budget, it was reduced to PhP161 million in the 2025 GAA, a decrease of PhP311 million.

And from PhP553 million budget allocation for the PNP’s drug related data and integrated generation system, it was reduced to PhP196 million, or a reduction of PhP357 million.

According to Remulla, the budget cut of PhP1 billion was allotted for the purchase of an all-terrain amphibious rescue vehicle of the Bicol region and PhP500 million for Philippine National Police (PNP) intelligence fund.

“So, as instructed by the President sa ating Budget Secretary ay iri-revert ang budget ng IT at tatanggalin iyong additional PhP500 million intelligence fund na nilagay sa GAA,” Remulla told reporters.

“So, return to original budget ng 820 million yata ang nasa PNP, naging 1.3 billion – ibabalik na naman sa dati siya. Iyong savings na iyon ay ilalagay natin sa launching and bidding out process ng integrated 911 system para sa buong Pilipinas. So, from intelligence fund to 911 ang gagawin natin doon. So, it will be a fully audited system na under scrutinous bidding,” he added.

The budget of DILG including its attached agencies increased by PhP643.59 million (0.2 percent) from PhP279.46 billion in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Expenditure Program to PhP280.10 billion in the 2025 GAA.

Among the other officials who attended Tuesday’s meeting were Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Arsenio Balisacan, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez, and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go. | PND