𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦:"Senators condemn 1.3B slash from OVP's 2025 Budget" by Renee Jayne Canale

Posted by: Haniyah Macadaag

Layout by: Clarisse Garcia

Date Published: September 20, 2024

Time Published: 6:50 PM

Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, and Senate President Chiz Escudero opposed the House Committee on Appropriations' decision on Friday, September 14, to cut the Office of the Vice President's budget by P1.3 billion in the senate, arguing that the committee should have respected "tradition" and shown "courtesy" in the budgeting process.

Furthermore, Senator Villanueva shared his point of view, that the budget of the VP being cut by more than 60% is unimaginable. In accordance with this, Senator Estrada and Senator Tolentino also commented, that the deliberation on the OVP budget will be determined by the plenary session.

The initially proposed budget of the VP is supposedly 2.03 billion, but collapsed to 733.198 million pesos, after citing the OVPs ‘overextended’ initiatives.

On the other hand, the Senior Vice Chair of the panel, Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo announced, that the committee stated a P1.3 billion, or almost 63 percent decrease, from the budget on the aid assistance for the Office of the Vice President rental charges in 2025.

Meanwhile, lawmakers stated, that they will not allow the Vice President's objectionable re-marks about the House to hinder their task of creating a suitable budget for all departments.

Escudero expressed optimism that the stalemate between the OVP and the House can be resolved through one or both parties stepping back, putting aside their differences or prejudices, adhering to the process, or ultimately allowing Congress, in its wisdom, to make a decision through a vote.

IMAGE SOURCE:

Villaruel, J.E. (2024, September 18). VP Duterte moves to ‘terminate’ House probe into funds use: ‘This is a political attack’. ABS-CBN News. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/18/vp-duterte-moves-to-terminate-house-probe-into-fund-use-this-is-a-political-attack-1150

Edwards, M. (n.d.). Pinterest.

https://ph.pinterest.com/pin/279363983125333263/

Magsambol, B. (2024, September 12). Escudero on OVP budget issue: Set aside biases, ‘simply follow the process’. Rappler.

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/escudero-response-office-vice-president-budget-issue/

Abante News. (2024, September 14). Jinggoy ibabalik tinapyas na pondo ng OVP. 

https://www.abante.com.ph/2024/09/14/jinggoy-ibabalik-tinapyas-na-pondo-ng-ovp/

REFERENCES:

Llanesca, P. (2024, September 11). https://www.gmanetwork.com/lawmakers-on-ovp-s-2025-budget...

Ramos M. (2024, September 14) https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/vp-sara-finds-budget...

Lalu, G. (2024, August 27). https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/.../ovp-budget-deferred...

POLITIKO. (2024, September 13).

https://politiko.com.ph/.../escudero.../politiko-lokal

GMA Integrated News. (2024, September 14). https://www.gmanetwork.com/.../jinggoy-ovp-budget-should...