Confidential funds were never a part of the administration of then President Benigno Aquino III, former Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC on Sunday, Oct. 2, said.
“We had no DepED confidential funds the whole six years under PNoy,” Luistro told the Manila Bulletin in a text message.
Luistro, who is currently the 28th Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools also known as the LaSallian Brothers, served as DepEd Secretary from 2010 to 2016. He oversaw the implementation of the K to 12 basic education reform under his term.
The former DepEd Chief also noted that he is “not sure if other previous DepED secretaries felt the need to include such in the DepED budget.”
A total of P150 million in confidential funds was allotted in the 2023 DepEd budget under Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa, in an interview after the joint presser of DepEd and OVP on Sept. 30, defended anew the multi-million request for confidential funds in DepEd’s budget next year.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/19/despite-lack-of-budget-for-other-programs-deped-justifies-need-for-confidential-funds/
“I do not have information that this is the first time that DepEd asked confidential funds,” Poa said.
Poa also reiterated the legal basis for such a request and stressed that this would be used for the “protection of learners” from predators and other criminal elements.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/30/depeds-confidential-funds-meant-to-protect-learners-says-spox/