Intel, confidential funds slashed; zero for AKAP

While the proposed 2026 national budget increased by more than seven percent, confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) were slashed by 11.2 percent, or P1.35 billion, from the existing national budget.

- By DERCO ROSAL and ELLSON QUISMORIO

The controversial AKAP [Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program] got no allocation in the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to the House of Representatives.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman reported during the ceremonial turnover of the fiscal year 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) that the total CIF allocation for next year will be P10.8 billion-P4.4 billion in confidential funds and P6.4 billion in intelligence funds.

Pangandaman noted that the largest allocation will go to the Office of the President (OP) with P4.5 billion, followed by the Department of National Defense (DND) with P1.85 billion, and the rest for other executive offices.

Pangandaman said no funding was given to AKAP as there were "still funds left under the 2025 budget." "There is no AKAP in the budget of the DSWD for next year," Pangandaman said in response to a question during a press conference.

AKAP, a program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), provided P5,000 in cash assistance to nearly five million near-poor Filipinos in 2024. It reportedly achieved a 99.31 percent utilization rate of its P26.7-billion budget.

Pangandaman said that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) the country's flagship poverty alleviation initiative-was given P112.9 billion under the 2026 NEP.

She said the P112.997-billion allocation for 4Ps was intact for all the recipients.

P274.926 for flood control