By Artem and Scott

Thumbnail by Mother

With the number of options these funds may have been invested into, much more are the drastic concerns that need funding and projects. Remembering these concerns and how heavy they weigh on the masses, one might question whether the CIF is the right course of action and whether its urgency truly answers a nationwide emergency. 

The Cost of Misaligned Priorities

Sara Duterte’s allocation of CIF seems to have impacted the Philippine budget system, potentially depriving Filipinos of better living conditions. In hindsight, DepEd is primarily focused on education and not directly related to national security, making the allocation of Php 150 million for CIF seem particularly questionable. Alternatively, the funds could have been redirected to support other essential services that hold greater relevance within the purview of this agency. 

While Duterte seems confident about the CIF, the budget for certain special provisions under DepEd may face cuts in 2024. For one, the National Academy of Sports, a state-operated sports institution in the country, saw its budget decrease from Php 356.8 million in 2023 to just Php 195.2 million in 2024, representing a 45% budget cut. Furthermore, the Early Childhood Care and Development council, an attached agency of DepEd, is also set to face a 24% budget cut, from Php 291.8 million in 2023 to Php 221.2 million in 2024. Notably, the National Museum of the Philippines, serving as the primary custodian of Philippine cultural heritage, will encounter a Php 189 million budget reduction in 2024. Other institutions affected by budget cuts include the National Book Development Board, the Philippine High School for the Arts, and the National Council for Children’s Television. 

This speaks volumes to the ongoing challenge of budget allocation within the Philippine government. Such an evident misplacement of priorities raises questions as to why Php 150 million from the department’s budget is designated for something not directly aligned with the agency’s mission when it could be better utilized for more critical purposes that deserve greater attention.

Unnecessary Precautions 

Being the DepEd Secretary, it is Duterte’s responsibility to know, address, and help execute feasible solutions to the issues rising within the education system. With all the budget cuts and debt, it is key that the funds are invested into projects that are effective and efficient. 

The country can no longer afford to gamble and second-guess with scarce, valuable resources. 

Now, with CIF in the picture, one may wonder if these funds should’ve been utilized better—after all, national security is a necessity. However, given the timing, is it worth the urgency and resources when numerous sectors within the education system are suffering?

The extreme need for more classrooms, teachers, learning resources, facilities, and even tables and chairs has been haunting the nation for the longest time now. Before the start of the year, DepEd stated that the country was short of 159,000 classrooms. The building and fulfillment of these facilities cannot keep up with the rising number of students. Issues such as overcrowding and learning gaps emerge from this root. These problems persist and remain unsolved year after year despite utilized efforts and budget allocations that never seem to be sufficient.

Though it was always relevant, having a steady plan is crucial, now more than ever. After the pandemic, there is an evident learning gap. According to the World Bank, the Philippines’ learning poverty in 2022 was at 91%, which means that 9 out of 10 students aged 10 have a hard time reading simple texts. Additionally, in world rankings, the country is one of the lowest. 

However, not only are students suffering, but their teachers as well. With the increased workload and harsh working conditions, teachers are continuously struggling, barely earning enough to sustain the cost of their work. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has been bringing up how the salaries of teachers are unlivable, accompanied by minimal benefits. According to their report, public school teachers, who are Teacher I, receive roughly Php 27,000 monthly, while private school teachers receive only about Php 15,000 to Php 18,000. Currently, public school teachers are only given free annual medical examinations and injury compensations. 

Evidently, there are matters at hand that weigh so much more, perpetually crushing the Filipino people. Long has this been going on, primarily due to a lack of funding to fully support proposed plans. Instead of diverting the attention to other potential threats, we should address the actual threat of declining education quality, which is rapidly deteriorating. Allocating more funds to this issue, rather than the CIF, increases the power to finally put an end to the problem. 

When left untreated and uncared for, it may lead to the degradation of Philippine Education as a whole. Instead of ignoring intensifying issues, dedicating time and resources into fixing the ailments may actually serve the Filipinos better.

The Real Obstacle to Peace

Despite the countless questions and criticisms from the masses, the OVP blindly defends their use and request of these funds. Duterte, herself, goes so far as to say, “Kung sino man kumokontra sa confidential funds ay kumokontra sa kapayapaan.” However, does opposing these funds immediately imply that one is against peace, more so an enemy of the state? 

Looking at it, these funds are built upon unclear and shaky grounds. While investing in defense is a government responsibility, the lack of transparency and laws that ensure proper use of funds open up the doors for graft, lies, and corruption to plague. 

Asking these questions are critical for future reform. To sustain a democracy, transparency is extremely needed. The existence of confidential funds has been around for years, but there is no established legal framework or security for these funds. Allowing the continuous use of these funds without any precaution doesn’t necessarily mean that they can’t be used properly. However, it is still undeniable that they have the potential to be exploited under certain circumstances.

Even though the House of Representatives has recently retracted the CIF budgets for various agencies, including DepEd, it highlights the issue of budgeting and funding lacking reasonable justifications. There are lapses in allocation and an underestimation of the different needs of the country. Focusing on misplaced priorities only fuels the growth of our mounting debt and mistrust, especially since the money used to pay for these projects come from the pockets of every Filipino.

With this, the actual definition of “kalaban ng kapayapaan” should not be those who critique the questionable aspects of the CIF. Instead, those who are concerned with this issue and oppose to challenge injustice are the exact opposite: the real obstacle to peace are those who continue to steal, deceive, and hide the truth from the masses for their own benefit.

Right now, the government can reassess their priorities and fix the allocation of the nation’s budget. Identifying the issues and addressing them with appropriate solutions is what the country desperately needs. After all, the Philippines is a developing country. Investing back in the people first can finally kickstart the country’s recovery and progress.