DepEd's budget for 2023 hurdles Senate plenary

Senators on Monday approved the proposed P667.18-billion budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) and its attached agencies for 2023, including its requested P150 million allocation for confidential fund.

During plenary debates, Senator Risa Hontiveros pushed for the realignment of the confidential fund, saying there are “no extraordinarily compelling reasons” to approve the appropriation.

“What to do with the DepEd confidential fund remains a question. And so at the proper time, because it was expressed by the DepEd leadership na iiwan nila sa Kongreso ‘yung halaga ng fund na ito, that I hope my colleagues in the Senate will share the view that there are no extraordinarily compelling reasons to provide a confidential fund to the Education agency,” she said.

(What to do with the DepEd confidential fund remains a question. And so at the proper time, because it was expressed by the DepEd leadership that they will defer this to Congress, that I hope my colleagues in the Senate will share the view that there are no extraordinarily compelling reasons to provide a confidential fund to the Education agency.)

“So at the proper time, I will make the proper time. I will make the proper proposed motion, proposed amendment on the realignment,” Hontiveros added.

Vice President and concurrent DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte was present at the plenary.

Duterte previously said she would defer to Congress the decision on the controversial fund.

In an earlier statement, DepEd also said confidential expenses are allowed for all civilian offices, including the DepEd.

“The threats to the learning environment, safety, and security of DepEd personnel are interlocking with the mandate of support to the national security of civilian offices,” it added.

Meanwhile, the DepEd thanked the senators for the approval of their proposed budget next year, saying it ensured the agency “will have sufficient funding to begin” the road to recovery.—LDF, GMA Integrated News