Bicam keeps P1.3-B budget cut for OVP

No PhilHealth subsidy • AKAP retained in GAA • Unprogrammed ‘pork’ funds hit P531.66 B

- By CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

Lawmakers have approved the bicameral conference committee report on the P6.532-trillion national budget for 2025, retaining the P1.3-billion funding cut in Vice President Sara Duterte's office amid tensions between her and President Marcos.

The bicam report, which is expected to be ratified by both chambers of Congress, does not include any increase in the P733-million allocation for the Office of the Vice President (OVP), which disappointed Duterte's allies.

Sen. Imee Marcos, a close friend of Duterte, and Sen. Bong Go, a longtime aide of Duterte's father former president Rodrigo Duterte, skipped the ceremonial signing of the bicam report, while Sen. Ronald dela Rosa arrived late and left before the event ended. He refused to affix his signature to support the budget.

Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on finance, said the OVP did not ask for additional funding for 2025 after the P1.3 billion was slashed, and did not submit documents justifying any request to restore its original proposed outlay.

During the Senate's budget hearing, Duterte said she was leaving the decision on the OVP's budget to Congress.

For his part, House appropriations committee chairman Rep. Zaldy Co questioned the OVP's overlapping projects, such as financial and burial assistance.

"These are duplications of national agencies' programs. It's not logical for the OVP to have separate social services," Co said. "We considered the Senate's concerns, particularly on the OVP budget."

"We decided to maintain the P1.3-billion budget cut and not to further reduce the OVP's travel funds. The slashed funds were allocated to agencies like DOH (Department of Health) and DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) with tested programs like AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) and MAIFIP (Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients),” he added.