ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (left), and Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)

Citing the "dubious track record" of Vice President Sara Duterte, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro vowed to oppose the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) request for a separate budget for social aid under the proposed P6.352-trillion outlay for 2025.

“Given the previous misuse of confidential funds, we must ensure that public funds are allocated and utilized properly," Castro, a House assistant minority leader, said in a statement Sunday, Sept. 1.

"Hindi natin pwedeng payagan na maglaan ng hiwalay na budget para sa social services sa isang opisina na may kaduda-dudang track record (We cannot allow the allocation of a separate budget for a department that has a dubious track record),” Castro said.

The House of Representatives, through the Committee on Appropriations, is currently holding per agency deliberations on the P6.352-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2025.

It was during these deliberations that the Makabayan congresswoman took Vice President Duterte to task for its questionable usage of confidential funds back in December 2022. Castro raised recent directive of the Commission on Audit (COA) for the Vice President to return ₱73 million in confidential funds that were disallowed due to improper use.

“The COA’s findings are clear. Kung hindi kayang i-manage nang tama ang ₱73 million na confidential funds, paano natin pagkakatiwalaan ng mas malaking halaga (If the OVP cannot properly manage its P73 million confidential funds, how can we entrust them an even higher budget?)This is about protecting taxpayers’ money from potential misuse,” she said.

Castro noted that Duterte--which observers described as bossy and uncooperative during the OVP budget hearing last Aug. 27--failed to provide adequate explanation on how taxpayers’ money was spent.

“We asked, and the Vice President could not give clear answers. ‘Sinimot’ niya ang confi funds pero ayaw niyang i-explain kung paano ginamit (She consumed entirely the confidential funds but she doesn’t want to explain how it was used).

“How can we, as lawmakers, justify giving her more funds when she cannot even account for the money she has already spent? Again, this is not about “politicizing” — ito ay tungkol sa pagprotekta ng pinaghirapan, pinagtrabahuan at pinagpawisang pera ng bawat Pilipino (this is about protecting the hard-earned money of every Filipino),” she pointed out.

The teacher-solon added that the budget for social services should be channeled directly to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), instead of being allocated separately to the OVP.

“The DSWD has the mandate and expertise to handle social services. By funneling the budget to the DSWD, we can ensure that the funds are used properly and reach those who need them most," Castro said.

She suggested that the OVP, like senators, congressmen and local government unit (LGU) officials, receive allocations through the DSWD should they have specific initiatives that they wish to pursue.

“This approach not only promotes transparency and accountability but also ensures that funds are managed by an agency specifically trained and equipped to handle social welfare programs," Castro said.

“As lawmakers, we are simply fulfilling our duty. It is our responsibility to scrutinize how public funds are spent. We owe it to the Filipino people to ensure that their money is used wisely, transparently, and for their benefit, not to enrich those in power," she concluded.