Meanwhile, the Education department, which Duterte also heads, is also asking for a separate ₱150 million confidential funds, which is not in its current budget.
The Vice President explained these will be used to address problems such as sexual grooming of students, recruitment of the youth by terrorist groups, and illegal drug use.
“The success of projects, activities and programs depend upon very good surveillance and intelligence. Dahil hindi po ninyo mata-target kung sino ang iso-solusyon ninyo kapag hindi po kayo naka-gather ng credible intelligence [Because you will not be able to solve your targets if you cannot gather credible intelligence],” she told lawmakers.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 14) — The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday terminated the deliberations on the Office of the Vice President’s proposed ₱2.3-billion budget for 2023 without any questions out of courtesy.
The deliberation on the three-fold budget increase over last year is set to be tackled in the plenary.
House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan motioned to terminate the hearing, which was seconded by Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe.
“While some members of the Makabayan bloc would like to propound questions on some of the new items in the budget, they also join us. Rather, they would propound questions in the plenary to extend our courtesy to the Office of the Vice President,” Libanan said.
Vice President Sara Duterte thanked the lawmakers for their support, saying she’s open to collaborate with them.
“If there’s anything that we can do to help you as an office in your respective mandates, respective legislative districts and party-lists, please do let us know. We are open to collaborations in helping our fellow Filipinos,” she said.
The OVP requested for ₱2.3 billion compared to the previous approved budget of P700 million that was approved during the last term of former Vice President Leni Robredo.
The documents submitted by the OVP to the House stated that the funds will be used for medical and burial assistance, free rides, and distribution of relief goods in 2023.
The OVP’s budget includes ₱500 million in confidential funds, which was not scrutinized by lawmakers.
Duterte’s spokesperson Reynold Munsayac previously said the Vice President can utilize the funds for peace and order and national security, especially for livelihood projects implemented in conflict areas.
House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said Congress should stop the practice of granting “courtesy” to the executive branch and letting the proposed budget go unchallenged.
Castro cited the unclear use of the multimillion-peso confidential funds requested by the OVP. She said even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not privy to the details, adding the “highly secretive” funds can be used to finance a coup d’etat against Marcos, who was Duterte’s running mate in the last elections.
“Congress is being reduced as a rubber stamp and a doormat of the executive,” the lawmaker said in a statement.
“We need to fulfill our sworn duty to scrutinize the budget because this is one of the main ways to detect abuse and underutilization of the people’s fund, by just letting the OP and OVP go without nary a question, then Congress is being remiss of this duty and damaging its own name,” she added.
