Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte came to the defense of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) request for P150 million in confidential funds on Monday, stressing the deep connection between education and national security.
Duterte emphasized the importance of education in shaping the nation’s future, remarking, “Napakahalaga na we mold children who are patriotic children, who will love our country and defend our country.” (It is so important that we mold children who are patriotic children, who will love our country and defend our country.)
However, she stopped short of explaining exactly how the confidential funds would be utilized to attain such patriotic objectives.
Read more: PNP Intensifies Security Measures in Schools Ahead of Class Resumption
The request for the confidential fund wasn’t unique to DepEd. The Office of the Vice President (OVP) also proposed a similar P150 million allocation. Duterte highlighted the existence of a joint circular that provides specifics on the utilization of these confidential funds. “Nakalatag din doon kung paano siya liliquidate and by its nature, its confidential funds so we cannot discuss kung paano siya ginagamit sa operations,” she elucidated. (It is laid out there how it will be liquidated and by its nature, its confidential funds so we cannot discuss how it will be used in its operations.)
While there have been calls for transparency and a detailed breakdown of how such a fund would be spent, Duterte left the decision to the legislative body. She remarked that the final allocation to both the OVP and DepEd would be at the discretion of Congress.
This development has been met with mixed reactions from the public, with some calling for more transparency in government spending, while others acknowledge the significance of confidentiality in matters pertaining to national security. As the debate continues, Congress is expected to closely scrutinize the proposed allocations in the coming weeks.
Read more: DepEd Upholds Inclusion of Same-sex Unions in K to 10 Curriculum Despite Controversy
