KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel sought the realignment of the confidential fund of the Department of Education for mental health programs and full face-to-face classes.

During the deliberations of the DepEd’s budget for next year, Manuel lamented that the confidential funds of the department and the Office of the Vice President is bigger than the allotment for mental health.

“Sana wala nang confidential or intelligence funds ‘yung DepEd tsaka OVP. I-realign na po natin ‘yan sa pangangailangan na hindi naman confidential,” the lawmaker said.

Education Assistant Secretary Dexter Galban said that there is a proposed P160 million specifically for mental health programs and the improvement of guidance counseling.

“I’m alarmed. Mas mataas pa ‘yung budget natin sa confidential funds ng DepEd at OVP kaysa mental health programs when even DepEd itself has data na almost every day po, may nagpapakamatay na mga basic education students. Mas mataas pa ‘yung bilang ng mga may suicide ideation o ‘yung mga naiisip na kitilin ‘yung sariling buhay dahil sa iba’t ibang problema. Di ko magets ang priorities ng DepEd sa ngayon,” Manuel said.

He was referring to a DepEd report that 404 students took their own lives and 2,147 students attempted suicide during Academic Year 2021-2022.