Nabigo si Vice President Duterte na dumalo sa deliberasyon sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso para ipagtanggol ang 2024 budget ng kanyang tanggapan at ng Department of Education dahil umano sa “possible conflict of schedule.”
Dahil dito, nagpasya ang Kamara na ilipat ang iskedyul nito bukas kasabay ng iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan.
Humirit si VP Sara ng P2.395 bilyon para sa OVP habang P758.6 bilyon para sa DepEd, kasama ang P500 milyon at P150 milyon confidential funds para sa 2024.
“I just would like to inquire on our schedule for today, because, as written in our schedule for today, after the OP (Office of the President), there should be OVP and Department of Education. So, at this point in time, what is the estimated time that the budget deliberation for the OVP and the DepEd be deliberated today?” tanong ni ACT Teachers partylist group Rep. France Castro, isa sa mahigpit na kritiko ng confidential funds ni VP Sara.
“The OVP, as well as Secretary of the Department of Education, conveyed a message to the [House] Committee on Appropriations as well as the [House] Committee on Rules of a possible conflict of schedule,” ayon kay Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janet Garin.
“As of the moment, the deliberations on the proposed budget of OVP as well as the DepEd have been temporarily moved tomorrow, considering we also have other agencies in the pipeline,” dagdag niya.
Kinompirma ni OVP spokesperson Reynold Munsayac sa mga mamamahayag na ang budget hearing ng dalawang ahensya ay isasagawa ngayon.
Isiniwalat kamakalawa ni Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo na ginasta ng P125 milyong confidential funds noong 2022 sa loob lamang ng 11 araw, batay sa datos ng Commission on Audit (COA).
