Salary Loan Table - RNG Coastal Bank RNG Bank offers salary loan for permanent DepEd teaching and non-teaching staff thru Automatic Payroll Deduction System (APDS). Features: 📍LOW INTEREST RATE 📍LOAN AMOUNT UP TO 500,000 📍5 YEARS MAXIMUM LOAN TERM 📍NO HIDDEN CHARGES 📍NO NEED TO GO TO THE OFFICE A Bank that is built with trust and integrity and committed to provide quality and safe banking services to its existing and future clients, RNG Coastal Bank, Inc . is a banking institution established in the year 1974. The Bank has 15 operating branches in the Visayas, 11 in Cebu and 4 in Bohol. Providing various financial products and services to its clients for almost 50 years, RNG Coastal Bank remains strong and continuously grows its number of branches to reach more Filipinos. Here are the branches of RNG Coastal Bank: RNG Coastal Bank Head Office Cor. Cabancalan Road, Talamban, Cebu City 6000 Labangon Branch Punta Princesa, (Labangon) Cebu City Asturias Branch Poblacion, Asturias, Ce...
What happens when government “confidential funds” are finally explained after years of speculation? That’s exactly what unfolded when Vice President Sara Duterte revealed how the Department of Education (DepEd) confidential funds were used. The disclosure touched on corruption probes, overpriced laptops, and the challenges of accountability in one of the Philippines’ largest agencies.
What Were the DepEd Confidential Funds For?
According to Duterte, the P112.5 million confidential funds allocated to DepEd in 2023 were used to investigate corruption inside the agency. She explained that reports of irregularities came not only from the central office but also from regional branches.
One major focus was the controversial P2.9-billion laptop deal, which had been flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) for being overpriced and outdated. The laptops, purchased during the height of the pandemic, were reportedly valued at ₱58,300 each—far higher than market prices at the time.
The Laptop Controversy
The story of the laptops is a case study in how public funds can go astray:
In 2021, laptops were procured to support teachers during online learning.
By 2022, COA flagged the purchase as “outdated and pricey.”
A Senate investigation in 2023 concluded the laptops were overpriced by nearly ₱979 million.
Several officials from DepEd and the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) were later suspended.
Duterte clarified that the questionable procurement did not happen directly inside DepEd but through PS-DBM. This distinction, however, did little to ease public frustration.
Did You Know?
The Philippines is one of the few countries where “confidential funds” can be allocated to civilian agencies like education. These funds are not subject to the same transparency rules as regular budgets, making them controversial.
Conflicting Accounts
Interestingly, Duterte’s explanation contradicted DepEd’s earlier statement that it had no knowledge of how the confidential funds were spent. For months, she had also declined to provide details, pointing instead to the COA as the proper authority to disclose spending.
This back-and-forth highlights a larger issue: Who gets to decide how secret funds are used, and how should the public be informed?
Common Questions
Why are confidential funds controversial?
Because they are exempt from standard auditing and reporting, making them vulnerable to misuse.
Was anyone held accountable for the laptop deal?
Yes. Several officials were suspended, though former Education Secretary Leonor Briones was only admonished, not penalized.
Can DepEd blacklist suppliers?
Duterte said attempts were made, but they were unsuccessful. Ultimately, the agency had to rely on COA and Senate recommendations.
A Bigger Picture on Transparency
This revelation is not just about laptops or one agency. It’s about how governments balance secrecy with accountability. For many Filipinos, the issue strikes a nerve because education funding is already stretched thin. Every peso spent on overpriced equipment is a peso not spent on classrooms, books, or teacher training.
Personal Reflection
Reading about this, I couldn’t help but think of the teachers I know who still struggle with outdated tools. It’s frustrating to imagine billions spent on laptops that didn’t even meet basic needs. At the same time, I get why confidential funds exist—to act quickly in sensitive cases. But when secrecy overshadows transparency, trust erodes fast.
Why This Matters
Sara Duterte’s explanation of how DepEd confidential funds were spent may answer some questions, but it also raises new ones about oversight and accountability. For a country where education is both a challenge and a hope for the future, every peso counts.
What do you think—should confidential funds even exist in agencies like education, or should all spending be fully transparent?