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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Duterte defends DepEd's P150-M confidential funds; cites nat'l security concerns

VP Duterte defends DepEd's P150-M confidential funds; cites nat'l security concerns

Published Aug 7, 2023 05:48 am

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday, Aug. 7, gave an overview of why the Department of Education (DepEd) needs a P150-million confidential fund under the 2024 national budget.

VPSD_Brigada Eskwela.jpg

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte during the National Brigada Eskwela kick-off at the Tarlac National High School on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023 (Sara Duterte/Twitter)

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the National Brigada Eskwela kick-off at the Tarlac National High School, she explained why DepEd, which she runs in a concurrent capacity, seeks a confidential fund.

“Because education is intertwined with national security. Napakahalaga na (It is very important that) we mold children who are patriotic, children who will love our country, and who will defend our country,” she said.

But as for its approval, Duterte stressed this would be at the discretion of Congress.

“With regard to the confidential funds we leave it to the decision of Congress--the House of Representatives and the Senate. Basta kami nag-propose kami, iwan namin sa kanila ang decision (We made a proposal, but we leave the decision to them),” she added.

The Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) showed that DepEd requested a P150 million cconfidential fund for next year’s national budget.

This amount is part of the P9.2-billion confidential fund for 2024–P4.5 billion for the Office of the President (OP), P500 million for the Office of the Vice President (OVP), and P1.7 billion for the Department of National Defense (DND).

Duterte, however, said she cannot discuss the breakdown of the funds, and only assured this was already detailed in a joint memorandum circular.

“There is a joint memorandum circular with regard to confidential funds so nakalatag doon kung paano siya gagamitin, nakalatag din doon kung paano siya i-liquidate (it includes how it will be used, how it will be liquidated), and by its nature, it’s a confidential fund, so we can’t discuss kung paano siya ginagamit sa operations (how it will be used in the operations),” she added.

As concurrent Education chief, the Vice President has been outspoken against the threats of insurgency, often calling on the youth not to fall to the ideologies of communism and terrorism.

The P150 million in confidential fund of DepEd forms part of the massive P758.6 billion that the agency might receive if the proposed 2024 NEP is approved.

As Vice President, Duterte will also get a P2.37-billion budget for her office, including a P500-million confidential and intelligence funds.

Related Tags

National security Confidential funds VP Sara Duterte DepEd Brigada Eskwela
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