Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday defended the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed P150 million confidential funds for 2024, underscoring that education is connected with national security.

“Education is intertwined with national security. Napakahalaga na we mold patriotic children, children who will love and who defend our country,” she told reporters when asked about the importance of the P150 million confidential funds.

Duterte did not discuss how the million-worth of funds will be operated as she cited that details are confidential in nature.

“There’s a joint memorandum circular with regard to confidential fund kung paano siya gagamitin at paano siya li-liquidate,” she said.

The Education Secretary said they are leaving the approval of the proposed budget to the decision of the two chambers of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

“Basta kami, nag-propose kami. Iiwan namin sa kanila ang desisyon,” Duterte added.

DepEd, under the Vice President’s leadership, also sought a P150 million confidential fund under its proposed 2023 budget.

Despite the Opposition Senators’ move to strike out the confidential fund last year, the Senate nonetheless approved it.

Aside from the education department, Duterte’s Office of the Vice President (OVP) is also asking for P500 million of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for 2024.

The Office of the President (OP) seeks P4.46 billion in CIF and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for P50 million.