SENATORS agreed to re-align part of the P150 million intelligence fund of the Department of Education for 2023.

During the period of amendments on the proposed 2023 national budget, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said among the committee amendments they made is the re-alignment of around P153 million confidential fund of several agencies to the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses.

This includes the transfer of P100 million of the P150 million DepEd confidential fund to the MOOE and other program and projects of the Office of the Vice President.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros proposed to transfer the P100 million of the DepEd’s intel fund to the agency’s Healthy Learners Institution Program.

Hontiveros further pushed the transfer of another P50 million to the program but Angara rejected it and insisted that P30 million remain under the intelligence fund.

Angara agreed to re-align P20 million for the Support to Schools and Learners Program.

The Senate, voting 21-0-0, approved the proposed 2023 budget on final reading.