CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS ONLY 'INSERTED' IN DEPED BUDGET, REVEALS USEC FOR FINANCE

TRIBUNE NEWS (Oct. 22, 2024) - A ranking official of the Department of Education (DepEd) has revealed that the item "confidential funds" was not part of the original budget proposal by the department.
Appearing in a legislative inquiry at the House of Representatives last Thursday, DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said that the agency's submitted budget for Congress approval for 2023 did not include the P150-million allocation for confidential expenses which has become controversial due to alleged misuse.
The confidential fund item was supposedly inserted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in DepEd's budget when a new administration took over in July 2022.
Undersecretary Sevilla said she has been in DepEd since the time of former secretary Leonor Briones. She remained in her post when Vice President Sara Duterte took over as DepEd secretary and has been retained by incumbent secretary Edgardo Angara, Jr.
Under questioning by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Usec. Sevilla said 2023 was the first time that DepEd received confidential funds.
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