DAVAO City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said on Saturday the House committee on appropriations backed the P1.4-billion proposed budget of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for 2018 and the agency’s P934.5 million to fund items needed in its anti-drug campaign.
Malabon City Rep. Federico Sandoval II asked the PDEA about its much-needed equipment to effectively monitor airport passengers.
“I am fully in support of the budget of PDEA. What equipment do you need so we can help in pushing for their procurement funding?” he asked.
Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe also supported PDEA’s budget proposal and called on PDEA officials to beef up their capability and highlight the agency’s accomplishments and programs.
He recommended the visibility of drug enforcement officers at the airports and seaports.
Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo also gave his support to PDEA.
“I would like to manifest again my support for the PDEA budget. I know it is hard to obtain the objectives of the President, but this is the time for PDEA to step up to the plate considering that our President is very serious in this war against drugs,” he said.
He asked PDEA as to how the drug list of the President was being managed and validated.
The 2019 elections are forthcoming, he raised, saying local politicians expressed fear that the drug list could be “used and abused.”
He called on the PDEA and other concerned agencies to put in place security protocols so that the list would not be used for political gain.
During last week’s hearing presided by committee vice chairman, Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete, PDEA’s officer in charge, Assistant Secretary Julius Fajardo gave Congress the assurance that they would be prudent and wise in utilizing its budget in pursuit of drug-free communities.
PDEA has proposed an original budget of P3.375 billion to the Department of Budget and Management, but the DBM approved only P1.448 billion to be spent for personnel services at P774.7 million, maintenance and other operating expenditures at P471.3 million and capital outlay at P593.7 million.
Acting director for financial management service Maria Lourdes Jacosalen said the PDEA has requested an added funding of P934.5 million for various projects, such as the establishment of 81 provincial offices, five district offices and 33 highly urbanized cities offices, 13 seaport and six airport inter-agency drug interdiction task groups; acquisition of 13 drug-sniffing K9 dogs with training; recruitment, selection and training of 500 drug enforcement officers, and procurement of three units of incinerator machines.