The Department of Education (DepEd) on Sunday defended the proposed P150-million funds for confidential bills in 2024, explaining that this is able to be used to deal with unlawful recruitment actions in colleges throughout the nation.
According to DepEd Undersecretary and spokesperson Michael Poa, the P150 million shall be used to gather info on unlawful recruitment in tutorial establishments and put a cease to such actions.
“Recently, talaga namang kailangan nating aminin na maraming mga intel activities, recruitment, na nangyayari sa ating mga paaralan, pati na rin ang seguridad ng ating mga learners and mga teachers and that is why kailangan natin ng pondo para po makakuha tayo ng kaukulang information,” he stated in an interview on Super Radyo DZBB.
“Itong info na ‘to ay gagamitin natin para po makapag-formulate tayo at makapag-implement ng mga targeted projects, activities, and programs laban sa mga ganitong mga bagay that poses as a risk, that poses a risk to our learners and teachers,” he added.
(We must admit that recently, there have been a lot of intel activities, recruitment happening inside our schools, along with the security of our learners and teachers. That is why we need funds to collect the necessary information.
The information will be used to formulate and implement targeted projects, activities, and programs against these things that pose a risk to our learners and teachers.)
Asked whether such supposed activities were occuring at such an alarming rate that it warranted such funds, Poa said that these things were happening.
“Talaga pong may ganyang activities po kasi, and that’s why I believe unang una sa lahat, kailangan natin aminin din talaga na there’s a necessity to guard our learners sa mga ganyang bagay,” he stated.
(There actually are these sorts of actions, and that’s why I believe, to start with, we actually have to acknowledge that there’s a necessity to guard our learners from these sorts of issues.)
A complete of P10.142 billion has been allotted for confidential and intelligence funds throughout all authorities businesses in 2024, with the largest share going to the Office of the President with P4.51 billion — P2.31 billion for intelligence bills and P2.25 billion for confidential bills.
The proposed funds additionally included P500 million for the Office of Vice President Sara Duterte, together with P150 million for the DepEd which she additionally leads as Secretary.
“Basically, itong pondo na ito ay gagamitin natin (we’ll use these funds) actually for the welfare of our learners and lecturers ‘pag dating sa seguridad nila (when it comes to their security), and peace and order in our schools,” Poa said.
Asked why such intelligence collection should not be taken up by other agencies, such as the Philippine National Police (PNP), Poa said these agencies already have a big scope.
“Unang una sa lahat, hand in hand naman po tayo nakikipag-coordinate sa mga national authorities natin ‘pag dating sa mga bagay na ito. Pangalawa, siyempre po ‘yung ating mga national authorities, napakalawak na ng scope nila, nationwide na talaga ‘yan in all aspects,” he said.
“Part naman ng mandato ng DepEd na pangalagaan ang ating mga guro at ang ating mga learners, that is why tayo naman ay nararapat na magkaroon ng ganyang pondo para rin po mas matulungan natin ang mga national authorities natin pag dating sa mga bagay that poses threats against our learners and teachers,” he added.
(Firstly, we are coordinating hand in hand on this. Second, of course, our national authorities already have a wide scope which is really nationwide in all aspects.
It is part of the DepEd mandate to protect our teachers and our learners that is why we deserve that fund to help national authorities further when it comes to things that pose threats against our learners and teachers)
Under its mandate, the DepEd formulates, implements, and coordinates policies, plans, programs, and projects in areas of formal and non-formal basic education.
It supervises all public and private elementary and secondary education institutions, including alternative learning systems. It is also in charge of providing the establishment and maintenance of a “complete, adequate, and integrated” education system.
In the same interview, Poa also responded to groups saying that the proposed confidential funds could instead be used for other programs of the DepEd, such as additional classrooms, schools, and teachers across the country.
“Kailangan din natin sigurong ma-emphasize na while we have also allocated malalaking budget for school infrastructure, for technology, for teachers’ coaching, lahat po ‘yan may budget, kasama rin talaga sa mandato ng DepEd ang pangalagaan din ang ating mga learners,” he said.
“Kailangan po kasi holistic talaga ang approach natin sa education kung gusto nating maganda hindi lang ang quality of education pero pati ‘yung buhay ng mga Pilipino natin na nag-aaral at pati ‘yung mga teachers natin na nagtuturo, and that is why we really have to allot resources for all aspects of our mandate,” he added.
(Maybe we also have to emphasize that we allocated a big budget for school infrastructure, for technology, for teachers’ coaching, all of these have a funds. It can also be actually included within the DepEd funds to guard our learners.
Our strategy to training must be holistic if we wish the standard of training to be good, together with the lives of Filipinos who’re finding out and our lecturers, and that’s the reason we actually need to allot assets for all points of our mandate.)
Based on the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Finance (BESF), the DepEd was allotted P758.595 billion in 2024. Broken down, P567.542 billion shall be for personnel companies, P142.513 billion for upkeep and different working bills (MOOE), and P48.539 billion for capital outlays.
In phrases of capital outlays for 2024, the proposed funds contains P65 million for land outlays, P41.923 billion for buildings and different buildings, and P6.550 billion for equipment and tools outlays.
“We really have to address all issues. Hindi po tayo pwedeng naka-blinders na isa lang ‘yung ginagawa natin, isinasantabi na natin lahat ng issues, kasi lahat po ‘yan ay importante, lahat po ‘yan ay priority, so lahat po ‘yan ay gagawin natin,” Poa stated.
(We actually have to deal with all points. We can not have blinders on, work on one factor, and set the opposite points apart. All of those are vital, all of those are priorities, so we do all of that.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
