Vice President Sara Duterte attends a hearing for the Office of the Vice President's 2025 budget at the House of Representatives on August 27, 2024.  Photo courtesy of the House of Representatives

MANILA (UPDATE) — The House Committee on Appropriations on Thursday recommended reducing the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed 2025 budget from P2.037 billion to P733.19 million.  

• Sara Duterte no show at House OVP budget hearing

The panel's Senior Vice Chair Rep. Stella Quimbo said the slashed P1.29 billion is proposed to be realigned to DSWD and DOH’s programs for assisting indigents. 

• House plans to cut P1 billion from OVP's proposed 2025 budget: Castro

The P1.29 billion budget cut would come from the following OVP items:

• P200 million — Supplies

• P92.4 million — Personnel services for consultants

• P947.4 million — Financial assistance

• P48 million — Rent/Lease expenses

• P5 million - Utility expenses

The amount would be allocated to DOH's Medical Assistance Program (P646.5 million) and DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (P646.5 million).

“Ito po ay naging unanimous decision among the members. Lilinawin ko rin po na hindi pa ito final approval ng Congress. Ito po ay recommendation pa lang ng Committee on Appropriations for the plenary,” Quimbo said.

“Nag-second reading na rin po ang approved committee report na kung saan nakapaloob ang recommendation ng reduced budget for the OVP, which means naka-calendar na po ang General Appropriations Bill as amended for plenary debates beginning September 16,” she added.

“Hindi po kami perpekto. It's a recommended amount. We are still open to debate and discussion. So kung mayroon pang input na kailangan po namin malaman at meron silang apela sa amin, na dapat dagdagan ito for whatever reason. Kami po ay very willing to listen to all of those inputs. Willing na willing po,” Quimbo noted.

The House panel’s decision to recommend a budget cut for the OVP is prompted by its view that the office’s assistance programs are “redundant” with those implemented by other government agencies, Quimbo said.

She also cited the OVP’s low budget utilization for certain programs and the observation of the Commission on Audit regarding issues in the implementation of OVP’s programs.

The House panel vice chair expects the House of Representatives to approve on third reading the 2025 General Appropriations Bill on September 25.
Vice President Sara Duterte said her office was “ready to work even without a budget,” after she skipped the House of Representatives hearing on its 2025 proposed funding.

BUDGET STALEMATE?

Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero calmed down talks of a potential stalemate between the Senate and the House of Representatives over the OVP budget.

The Senate chief downplayed concerns that Duterte’s office could be defunded or get zero budget.

• Imee Marcos seeks 'courtesy' approval of OVP, OP budgets: 'Nabigla kami sa alitan'

"The budget process is still ongoing and I would not want to preempt the House or Senate. Suffice it to say that it (zero budget) is possible given that Congress has the ‘power of the purse’, but [it] has never happened to the OVP nor to any agency in recent years to my recollection," Escudero said in a text message.

Escudero said any impasse on the budget process could be resolved by voting on the matter.

"I am hopeful though that the seeming impasse between the OVP and the House will be resolved where either or both would take a step back, set aside their differences/biases, simply follow the process or, at the end of the day, for Congress (in the exercise of its wisdom) to decide on this and other related matters by a vote," Escudero said.

• Marcos refutes VP Duterte: 'No politics' in OVP budget hearings

He urged all concerned to respect the legislative process on the budget, saying any drama would not help the country.

"Budget deliberations are usually boring because of the numbers and while this whole thing is adding drama and color to it, I don't think this is in any way helping resolve the problems our country and people are facing right now," Escudero said. 

• House panel defers approval of OVP's 2025 budget anew

On Wednesday, Duterte ally Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said he sees a possible stalemate between the Senate and the House of Representatives, given that he believed many of his colleagues would stand by Duterte's budget.  

“Most likely, kung walang magi-give in, pagdating sa bicam. What will happen? Stalemate talaga," he said. – With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News