THE operation and implementation of the programs of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) would not be adversely affected by the huge budget cut in its 2025 allocation, Sen. Grace Poe said yesterday.
Poe, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, said the P733 million approved by the Senate and which was recommended by the House of Representatives is enough to “capacitate” the OVP to operate and implement its programs.
In a press conference, Poe said the OVP will have P600 million out of the P733 million to implement its social assistance programs which the office itself identified.
“Kasi sa kabuuan nilang budget, P600 million doon ay puwede nilang gamitin for social programs. Nag-submit sila sa amin ng mga social programs na sila mismo ang naglagay kung saan nila gustong ilagay (The OVP has P600 million from its total budget for social programs which they identified themselves),” she said.
She also said the OVP can tap the programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for requests for social assistance.
Besides, she added, the OVP did not request the committee to increase its budget next year.
“When we had our committee hearing, wala namang naging formal request na taasan (There was no formal request for the increase and) also for the justification for that increase. We are thankful for the statement that the VP (Vice President) will defer to Congress (the decision on its budget),” she said.
Poe said “it is not the end of the line” for the OVP budget since this can still be appealed when senators and congressmen meet at the bicameral level to reconcile the differing versions of the Senate and the House.
The bicameral committee is set to meet today at the Sheraton Manila Hotel in Pasay City.
But Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, one of the senators who called for an increase in the OVP budget, said he sees a very slim chance that the 2025 appropriation for the office of Vice President Sara Duterte will be increased during the bicameral meetings.
“Hindi nga nakalusot dito, eh mas lalo na sa bicam (The recommended increase was not carried here in the Senate, what more during the bicam),” he said.
Poe brushed aside the possibility that the OVP budget could be reduced further at the bicameral level.
“Sa tingin ko sagad na rin ito. For me, at least you have to make sure that the department can operate. Kung may prblema ka sa namumuno, ibang usapan na iyon (I will not agree to further reduce it. For me, at least we have to make sure that the department can still operate. It’s another thing if you do not like who is heading the agency),” she said.
Poe said the Senate restored the P10 billion slashed by the House for the AFP Modernization Program, saying that the armed forces badly need to upgrade its defense capabilities.
Dela Rosa lauded the retention of the P50 billion budget for the AFP Modernization Program.
“I am certain that this additional funding for our armed forces will not only bring them new and technologically advanced military equipment but perhaps most importantly, boost their morale and confidence. You made them feel that they are not alone in defending our motherland,” Dela Rosa said.
Poe said the Senate also allotted more than P64 billion in government subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), which is P10 billion less of its request of P74 billion.
She said the Office of the President’s budget was increased by more than P5 billion – from P10.446 billion to P15.86 billion – to five the Executive sufficient funds for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meet which the Philippines will host next year.
