Lawmaker: Sara’s DepEd spent confidential funds fast but regular funds slow

September 2, 2024 , 09:40 PM

By Rodolfo Dacleson II

(September 2, 2024) – A lawmaker on Monday criticized Vice Pres. Sara Duterte-Carpio for her slow expenditure of funds when she was the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), nothing this could affect students adversely.

Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo noted the underutilization of P37 billion out of the DepEd’s P735 billion allocated last year, citing the Commission on Audit (COA). The DepEd, meanwhile, spent its confidential funds for the first three quarters in just 190 days.

“Ang efficiency pagdating sa spending ng confidential funds ay 143%, pero sa regular funds, napakabagal,” said Quimbo during the budget deliberation of the proposed P745.8 billion fund of DepEd for next year..

Duterte-Carpio resigned as DepEd chief last June due to her rift with the administration of Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. She was replaced by former senator Sonny Angara.

The COA reported that DepEd’s low utilization rate stemmed from delayed, partial, or non-implementation of various programs, activities, and projects.

Pointing this out, Quimbo stressed that it will only worsen the country’s “learning crisis,” putting more Filipinos at a disadvantage in competing for global jobs.

“We cannot waste funds, we cannot waste time,” added Quimbo. “Pero pagdating sa COA reports, isa sa pinakamalaking findings in 2023 ay low utilization.”

Last Tuesday, Duterte-Carpio quarreled with Quimbo when the latter led the budget deliberation of the Office of the Vice President’s proposed P2.3 billion fund for next year.

ALSO READ: Netizens blast Sara’s ‘pusit’ behavior during OVP budget hearing

Last year, Quimbo defended Duterte-Carpio’s confidential funds, saying there was “nothing improper” about the questioned transfer from the Office of the President.

She admitted last Tuesday that it was “the most difficult moment.”

ALSO READ: OVP tried to stop COA’s report on P125M confidential funds, claims lawmaker

Under Duterte-Carpio’s two-year leadership in the DepEd, Filipino students showed no significant improvement in international assessments. Groups attributed the continuous low scores to the “misprioritization” of the national budget.

The DepEd also had a shortage of almost 160,000 classrooms during the academic year 2023-2024, skyrocketing from the previous deficit of 91,000 classrooms. Moreover, over 89,000 teaching positions were vacant.

“Kung kulelat tayo, hirap tayo,” said Quimbo. “’Yun ang kinakaharap ng ating kalihim, ng buong kagawaran, kaya kailangan natin tulungan ang DepEd.”

(With reports from Marianne Enriquez, News5)

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