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.

• Makati: P240 million (same as 2022)
• Manila: P120 million (same as 2022)
• Quezon City: P100 million (same as 2022)
• Pasay City: P60 million in 2023 (down from P80 million in 2022)
• Caloocan City: P60 million (same as 2022)
• Parañaque City: P49.5 million (same as 2022)
• Muntinlupa City: P44.08 in 2023 (down from P44.29 in 2002)
• Marikina City: P25 million (same as 2022)
• San Juan City: P16 million (down from P17.3 million in 2022)
• Malabon City: P13.7 million (down from P15 million in 2022)

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:

• Crime prevention and law enforcement activities
• Capability development for personnel of law enforcement agencies and volunteers
• Programs related to illegal drugs, illegal gambling, counter insurgency, smuggling, human trafficking, and against illegal fishing and unlicensed mining and logging operations

– Rappler.com