Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa speaks during a Senate hearing on August 30, 2023. (File photo from Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa intends to fight for the confidential allocation of the Department of Education (DepEd).
He said he could only do this if he could get the consensus of his fellow lawmakers in the Senate.
In a press briefing on Monday, dela Rosa told reporters that without the support of his colleagues during the plenary deliberations, he would not make any effort to defend DepEd’s confidential allocation.
“I will see if many [will support], including the leadership of the Senate, that will also be a factor in our effort in the plenary,” said dela Rosa in a mix of English and Filipino.
“But I am not dying for that,” he emphasized.
“Ang akin lang ay nasasayangan ako sa tiyansa na tuluyan nang mahinto ang recruitment ng Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army dito sa ating kabataan sa eskuwelahan,” he explained.
(My only concern is that it’s a shame we’re wasting the opportunity to stop CPP-NPA’s recruitment among youth in schools permanently.)
DepEd’s P150 million confidential fund was stripped by the small committee of the House of Representatives.
Echoing Vice President Sara Duterte’s words, dela Rosa insisted the secret allocation will be used to combat recruitment among students and youth.
“If you want to address recruitment ng mga estudyante sa mga eskwelahan, then you have to tap the right agency, which is DepEd,” explained dela Rosa.
(If you want to address recruitment among youth in schools, then you have to tap the right agency, which is DepEd.)
The Senator added he will also support the proposed P300 million confidential allocation for the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
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