MANILA, Philippines – Makati was the top spender in confidential funds among the 10 cities in Metro Manila that incurred such expenses in 2023, according to their financial statements submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA).
Based on the separate audit reports on Metro Manila’s 16 cities released by COA on December 13, the 10 cities incurred a total of P728 milion in confidential funds expenses in 2023.
Makati, the second wealthiest city in the country, incurred the biggest confidential funds spending at P240 million, unchanged from 2022.
Here are is a breakdown of the confidential funds spending of the 10 cities.
The other six cities in Metro Manila, including three of the country’s 10 wealthiest cities — Pasig, Taguig, and Mandaluyong — reported zero confidential expenses. The others are Las Piñas City, Navotas City, and Valenzuela City.
COA, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of National Defense, and the Governance Commission for GOCCs issued Joint Circular No. 2015-01 which provides that confidential spending of LGUs must be directly related to their Peace and Order Programs (POPs).
Under the circular, activities and programs eligible for confidential spending are limited to the following:
– Rappler.com
