PBBM restores PNP’s IT budget, reverts added intel funds –DILG

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla (PNA file photo by Robert Alfiler)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) information technology (IT) program will see a restoration of its original funding after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered a reversion of budget cuts and the removal of “inserted” intelligence funds to the police force.

In a Palace press briefing Tuesday, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla bared that the various PNP IT projects incurred significant budget cuts in 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

These projects include the Enhancement of the National Police Clearance System, which saw its budget reduced from PHP600 million in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to PHP232 million; the Establishment of the Safe Camp Security System, cut from PHP472 million to PHP161 million; and the PNP Drug-Related Data Integration and Generation System, which had its funding slashed from PHP533 million to PHP196 million.

Remulla said that while these vital IT programs were being underfunded, nearly PHP1 billion was allocated for the purchase of All-Terrain Amphibious Vehicles for the Bicol Region, and an additional PHP500 million was added to the PNP’s intelligence fund.

In response, Marcos instructed Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to revert the PNP’s IT program budget to its original amount and eliminate the additional PHP500 million allocated to the intelligence fund.

“As instructed by the President sa ating (to our) Budget Secretary, ire-revert ang budget ng IT at tatanggalin yung additional PHP500 million intelligence fund na nilagay sa GAA (The budget for IT will be reverted while the PHP500-million intelligence fund in the GAA will be removed). So return to original budget,” Remulla said.

The reversion of the budget cuts and the removal of the intelligence fund will free up funds, which will be reallocated to support the integration and enhancement of the 911 emergency hotline system, Remulla said.

The DILG chief said the added intelligence fund for the PNP was not discussed during the budget deliberations in Congress.

“Dinagdag lang nila kaya nagtataka din kami kaya pinatanggal na rin (That was just added in and we were also wondering. That’s why that will be removed),” he said.