Hike in NBI 2023 budget sought to boost gov't cybercrime prevention programs

A vice-chairperson of the Senate finance committee is seeking to increase the budget proposed by the executive department for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in 2023 to intensify the government's efforts in clipping cybercrimes in the country.

In a statement, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed concern over the executive department's decision to cut the funding of the NBI to P1.8 billion under the 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to Congress, compared to the bureau's P2.3 billion in 2022.

According to the lawmaker, the budget cuts include funding for the NBI's anti-cybercrime enforcement unit.

For 2022, Gatchalian said the NBI budget for its anti-cybercrime unit was set at P26.4 million but only P21.2 million or a slash of almost 20% was included in the 2023 NEP.

He emphasized that the reduction in the agency's budget could adversely affect its anti-cybercrime operations especially at a time when illegal activities, such as identity theft, credit card fraud, and proliferation of spam and phishing messages, continue to rise.

“Cybercrimes are flourishing in many territories including the Philippines. I would like to see that the NBI is fully equipped and has the necessary resources, especially in its fight against cybercrimes,” the senator said.

He added that it is crucial to reinstate the cut in the budget of the agency while Congress works on the passage of the SIM Registration Bill.

Should the Congress approve the SIM Registration Bill, the senator said the measure is expected to enable NBI to effectively implement its anti-cybercrime campaign.

A substantial reduction in the number of cybercrimes in the country would likewise help enhance the digital revolution in the country and underpin economic recovery, he added.

“We will do our best to reinstate the amount that was cut in the budget proposal...Kailangan nating magbigay ng nararapat na suporta sa NBI upang mapigilan at matunton ang mga kawatan na lalo pang nagiging sopistikado na ngayon. Kung nais nating paigtingin ng ahensiya ang pagpuksa sa cybercrimes, ibigay natin ang lahat ng nararapat na suporta dito," he stressed.

(We need to give enough support to the NBI to prevent and identify the perpetrators who are becoming more sophisticated now. If we want the agency to intensify its efforts against cybercrime, we should provide what the agency needs.)—AOL, GMA News