Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 5) — The controversial ₱150-million confidential fund of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the ₱10-billion funding for the government’s anti-communist task force have been restored in the bicameral conference committee’s version of the proposed 2023 budget.
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Representative Elizaldy Co confirmed this to reporters on Monday after the committee, which is composed of representatives from both chambers of Congress, approved the reconciled version of the proposed ₱5.268-trillion national budget for next year. The budget is scheduled for ratification later in the day.
“That’s the decision of the House…na ituloy ‘no, because mahirap, mga kabataan natin nare-recruit sa maling papuntang landas,” House appropriations panel chairman Co said, referring to the DepEd’s confidential fund which the Senate earlier slashed to ₱30 million.
[Translation: That’s the decision of the House, to restore the funds, because it’s difficult if the youth are recruited to take the wrong path.]
“We want them to be secured, the future of our children,” he added.
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte previously said the ₱150 million will be used to help fight crimes targeting learners and teachers.
However, some lawmakers and education groups have questioned the hefty amount, which Senator Risa Hontiveros pointed out is even bigger than the funding initially earmarked for the state intelligence agency.
Meanwhile, the budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) was also restored after it was reduced to ₱5 billion.
The agency, notorious for “red-tagging,” has been criticized for its slow completion of projects this year, with Co saying only 2% have been completed or are underway. The other 98% are still under pre-procurement or procurement stage.
However, Co also earlier said the House will still convince the Senate to restore the ₱10 billion funding, citing “the important role the NTF-ELCAC plays to help end the country’s decades-long insurgency.”
According to Angara, it usually takes around a week for the president to sign the proposed budget after the bicameral report is ratified in the plenary by both houses of Congress.
He said they target approval before Christmas but also stressed this remains uncertain, especially since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled to leave the country this month.
Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Marcos will travel to Belgium this December for the summit of the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
