MANILA – The Senate has approved additional funding for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) as part of the proposed P6.325-trillion national budget for 2025, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros announced Thursday.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Senado, Hontiveros revealed that the PCG’s budget was increased by P100 million for intelligence operations, while the IACAT received an additional P84.9 million to bolster efforts against human trafficking.
“These additional funds will significantly help the fight to end POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) and other scams that exploit Filipinos here and abroad,” Hontiveros stated.
Boosted Allocations
The PCG’s intelligence fund now totals P400 million, while IACAT’s budget, originally set at P69.2 million, has been increased to support its anti-trafficking initiatives.
Additional budget increases include:
- P32.7 million for the National Coordination Center Against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Abuse and Exploitation Materials, supplementing its proposed budget of P18.7 million.
- P5 million for the Sumbungan Board, which handles complaints under the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law.
Call for Armed Forces Modernization Funding
Hontiveros also urged her colleagues to restore the P10-billion allocation for the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly Horizon 2, which focuses on bolstering defenses in the West Philippine Sea.
“We need to catch up to maintain a credible defensive posture, especially as many Horizon 1 projects remain unfinished, and yet we are transitioning to Horizon 3,” Hontiveros said.
Next Steps for the 2025 Budget
The bicameral conference committee, composed of representatives from the Senate and House of Representatives, is set to reconcile differences in their respective versions of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).