Senator Risa Hontiveros of the Senate minority group has sought a reallocation of some of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds.

Hontiveros made the call during a public hearing on the proposed P666.25-biliion budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) where the Vice President is the concurrent DepEd secretary.

She had asked Duterte if she would be willing to reallocate some of her confidential funds for 2023 to finance the agency’s indigenous peoples (IP) education program which suffered budget cuts.

Hontiveros asked Duterte how the department intends to spend its requested funds for surveillance and security amounting to about P150-million.

Without specifying the purpose of the allocation, Duterte cited issues and cases involving teachers and students, such as illegal drugs, abuses, extremism and terrorism, pornography and other illegal activities.

Still, the DepEd chief said they could, internally, “work out realignments” to fund programs and activities that need funding.

Hontiveros, nevertheless, expressed support for the DepEd and its appeal for more funds for the country’s education sector.


Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/30/risa-seeks-realignment-of-vps-deped-p150-million-intelligence-funds/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=risa-seeks-realignment-of-vps-deped-p150-million-intelligence-funds)