VP Sara: Confi funds vital as ‘education is intertwined with national security’

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday defended the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed P150-million confidential funds for fiscal year 2024, saying that it has to do with national security.

In an ambush interview during the national kick-off of the 2023 Brigada Eskwela at the Tarlac National High School, Duterte was asked why it is important for the DepEd to secure the multi-million budget for confidential expenses next year.

“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,” the DepEd chief said.

Aside from the P150 million being sought by the DepEd, the Office of the Vice President has also requested for P500-million confidential funds in the 2024 national budget.

Duterte said the DepEd will leave it to Congress the decision whether or not it will be approved.

She also declined to give a breakdown of how the agency’s proposed confidential funds would be used. 

“There is a joint memorandum circular with regard to confidential funds. Nakalatag doon kung paano siya gagamitin. Nakalatag din doon kung paano siya i-liquidate. And by its nature, it’s a confidential fund, so we cannot discuss kung paano siya ginagamit sa operations,” she added.

(It is laid out there how the confidential funds will be used. It is also laid out there how it could be liquidated. By its nature, it's a confidential fund, so we cannot discuss how it will be used in operations.)

Over the weekend, DepEd spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa said the P150 million will be used to collect information on illegal recruitment in academic institutions across the country and put a stop to such activities.

Asked whether such supposed activities were occuring at an alarming rate that warranted such funds, Poa said that these things were happening.

“Talaga pong may ganyang activities po kasi, and that’s why I think unang una sa lahat, kailangan natin aminin din talaga na there’s a need to protect our learners sa mga ganyang bagay,” he said.

(There really are those kinds of activities, and that’s why I think, first of all, we really need to acknowledge that there’s a need to protect our learners from those kinds of things.)

Under the 2023 national budget, the DepEd was also granted a P150-million confidential fund. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News