Senate OKs 2025 budget minus OVP, AKAP funds

The Senate passed on third and final reading yesterday the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025, but with controversial items like the allocations for the Office of the Vice President and the financial assistance Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) set aside for later discussion at the bicameral conference committee.

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

Voting 18 affirmative, zero negative and one abstention, Senate President Francis Escudero announced the approval of the 2025 national budget sponsored by Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the committee on finance.

"The budgets of OVP and AKAP will be determined during bicam. For now, OVP is at GAB (General Appropriations Bill) level while AKAP is restored to the NEP (National Expenditure Program) level. We need to consult our House counterparts on these items," Poe said in a text message to reporters.

In abstaining, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said he wanted to "adopt a wait-and-see attitude, which is the more prudent approach."