Dwayne Pelagio

The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) P733-million budget proposal will have a second round to defend itself - now in the House of Senate.

Photo Courtesy of Rappler/ABS-CBN News.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Sept. 29 in a DZBB interview that the House-approved budget of the OVP led by VP Sara Duterte could still increase or decrease during the upper chamber’s deliberations.

“I haven’t seen (OVP’s) budget yet, to be honest. I will probably see that when Senator Grace (Poe) submits the committee report because I will definitely change it and it will change, either increase or decrease,” Escudero told dzBB in the interview.

“My only reference point is the version that she will represent. That will go through the ordinary legislative process just like other departments, whose budgets will be cut or increased, and that will be discussed in plenary,” as Escudero explained the process of the deliberations.

Escudero reiterated if someone wants to submit a motion, it will be voted on in plenary and he believes that all these things should be discussed and debated in plenary.

Asked if Sara Duterte would attend the Senate budget deliberations, Escudero replied the committee deliberations are over so Duterte would no longer answer questions, and the senate-sponsor of the budget and not the head of agency would answer the questions of other senators.

During the House deliberations, some lawmakers raised the issue that the Commission on Audit (COA) disallowed P73 million, representing nearly 60 percent of the P125 million in the OVP’s confidential funds.

He said the COA’s disallowances and other issues appeared in the House hearing, but were not raised in the Senate finance subcommittee hearings.

“Again, there is a process. What should have been in the middle of the amendment proposal and if someone objects, it should be put to a vote,” he added, explaining his view over the issue.

He also stated if no one objects, it is still the proposed amendment to the OVP budget, whether fair or downward, because that is what the majority is in favor of.

Escudero mentioned it would be better if the vice president would attend the plenary deliberation of the OVP budget since the Senate has approved the funds on the committee level.

Some senators also plan to increase the OVP’s budget.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said in an interview that he heard from some of his colleagues about the plan to add to the Office of the Vice President’s funds once it is tackled in the Senate.

“In fairness, dito nag-attend po siya. And she answered questions raised by some of our senators. She was very engaging with the senators, so walang problema,” he added.

The House of Representatives approved the P6.352-trillion 2025 budget in its third and final reading on Sept. 25 with the OVP’s budget reducing from P2 billion to P733 million.

The P1.29-billion budget cut of the OVP would be reduced from the following: supplies (P200 million);  personnel services of consultants (P92.4 million); financial assistance (P947.4 million); rent/lease expenses (P48 million); and utility expenses (P5 million).

The approval came a day after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. certified it as urgent.