Confidential Funds being allocated to DepEd/Education (Against)

"Ang atong mga anak dapat maka eskwela nga dili ta mahadlok nga dunay
magpahimulos nila. Dapat makapanigurado ta nga dunay ta mahatag nga pagkaon
nga baon sa ilaha. Dapat makauli sila sa atong mga paninalay nga luwas ug
malipayon (Our children should go to school without us worrying that they could be in
danger. We should ensure that we can provide them with food. They must come back
home safe and happy). This is a picture of national security. This is confidential funds,"
Duterte said. Lopez, A. (2023, October 4).

Main Argument: There are other Departments/Organizations in need of funds

Argument #1: There are other Departments/Organizations in need of funds (Ex. NSC)
The allocated (2023) budget for the NSC (National Security Council) is P343.3
million. BORDEY, H. (2022, October 4). On the other hand, the budget for the DepEd is a
whopping P710.6 Billion. DBM submits 2023 Budget to Congress; Education,
infrastructure, health, social protection, agriculture, top budget priorities. (n.d.).
If our funds for the NSC dwindle dramatically, the state of national security is at
stake, especially with the rising tension with China.
According to Lopez, A. (2023, October 4). Manila accused Chinese ships of firing water
cannons and making “dangerous maneuvers” toward Philippine vessels resupplying a
remote military outpost on Friday, in the latest of a string of incidents between the two
countries in the disputed South China Sea.

Philippine authorities said a Chinese coast guard vessel had fired water cannon against
its vessel M/L Kalayaan in “an illegal though unsuccessful attempt to force [it] to alter
course,” as it took part in a routine resupply mission to troops stationed on the BRP Sierra
Madre in the Second Thomas Shoal.

The Philippines also claimed that vessels belonging to a Chinese maritime militia were
involved in the harassment and that two Philippine boats were subjected to “reckless”
and “dangerous” harassment by inflatable boats belonging to the Chinese coast
guard.
Argument #2: We already have Education as our top priority, so why allocate it more
funds?
According to The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. (1987). The State
shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will
attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate
remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Argument #3: Limitations of the help of confidential funds in terms of Education

References:

BORDEY, H. (2022, October 4). Senate panel OKs NICA, NSA proposed 2023

budget (GMA News, Ed.) [Review of Senate panel OKs NICA, NSA proposed 2023

budget]. Https://Www.gmanetwork.com; GMA News.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/846942/senate-panel-oks-nica-n

sa-proposed-2023-budget/story/

DBM submits 2023 Budget to Congress; Education, infrastructure, health, social

protection, agriculture, top budget priorities. (n.d.). Www.dbm.gov.ph. Retrieved

November 14, 2023, from

https://www.dbm.gov.ph/index.php/management-2/430-dbm-submits-2023-budget-to-

congress-education-infrastructure-health-social-protection-agriculture-top-budget-priori

ties#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20have%20identified%20the%20priority

Lopez, A. (2023, October 4). Confidential funds needed for peace, order: VP

Sara (Philippine News Agency, Ed.) [Review of Confidential funds needed for peace,

order: VP Sara]. Https://Www.pna.gov.ph/; Philippine News Agency.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211164

Register, K. M., Larry. (2023, November 10). Philippines accuses Chinese vessels of

firing water cannon on ships resupplying South China Sea military outpost. CNN.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/10/asia/south-china-sea-philippines-water-cannon-intl-

hnk/index.html

The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. (1987). Official Gazette of the

Republic of the Philippines.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/