Most frugal, highest spenders

Sen. Mark Villar, son of property tycoon Manuel Villar Jr. who is listed among the world's top 200 billionaires, was consistently the most frugal senator in 2022 and 2023.

- By CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE and DELON PORCALLA

In a paid ad in The STAR yesterday, Villar emerged as the most frugal member of the Senate, spending just P96,962,129.10 in 2023. In 2022, he reported the least expenses with only P35 million.

Like him, his mother, Sen. Cynthia Villar, reported expenses of P101,248,112.89, making the son and mother the least spenders among senators in 2023. Each senator gets a total salary of P3.279 million a year.

The Senate's expenditure report for 2023, covering payments and expenses from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, revealed how much each senator utilized. Total expenses amounted to P3,215,827,424.13, with significant disparities between the highest spenders and the most frugal members of the Senate.

The expenses covered extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses, travels, salaries and benefits of their staff, meetings and conferences, professional/consultancy fees, supplies and materials, rental of vehicles and equipment, maintenance and other expenses.

Topping the list of highest spenders was former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri, who led the chamber from June 2022 to May 2024. His expenses during the period amounted to P164,391,926.42, which might be a reflection of the demands and responsibilities associated with his leadership task.

Following closely are Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, who spent P161,949,752.31, and Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino whose expenses reached P150,263,910.96.

Senate President Francis Escudero, who assumed leadership on May 22, reported expenses of P116,884,508.45.