Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) — The Senate finance committee on Thursday approved the proposed 2023 budgets of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), both headed by Vice President Sara Duterte.
Duterte was present during the deliberations where she defended the proposed ₱2.3-billion budget of the OVP and ₱710 billion sought by DepEd.
The OVP budget was approved in just 30 minutes, with Duterte gaining support from the senators, including Senate President Miguel Zubiri.
“Time and time again, whenever there is a budget deliberation of the OVP, we would always support the budget of the OVP whoever the vice president may be,” Zubiri said. “And we give due courtesy to that very important office. I’m also appealing to my colleagues that we give the same courtesy that we have given to the previous vice presidents when it comes to their budget.”
Only Minority Leader Koko Pimentel raised questions, including one on the controversial ₱500-million confidential funds for the OVP.
“Since 2003-2012, there were funds — intel and confidential — that were granted to the OVP. As to the amount and propriety as we have manifested in the House of Representatives, we leave it to the honorable members of the Senate to decide on this matter,” the Vice President responded.
The proposed OVP budget is ₱1.6 billion higher compared to the last approved budget of ₱700 million under former vice president Leni Robredo.
Duterte also told senators the OVP is talking to the Government Service Insurance System for properties that can be donated or sold to her office for its planned relocation.
For now, she said the OVP is looking at the Coconut Palace for its permanent office.
“We initially allotted ₱10 million for thinking of a downpayment just to secure the contract for next year and then ask for additional amounts for multi-year payments of the property,” she noted.
Despite the planned permanent OVP location, Duterte said its satellite offices across the country will continue to be operational to provide medical and burial assistance to the public.
Just over two weeks ago, the House appropriations committee terminated deliberations on the OVP’s proposed budget without any questions — also out of courtesy.
READ: House panel swiftly ends OVP budget deliberation
Meanwhile, budget deliberations for DepEd lasted for over three hours.
This time, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros asked if the department’s ₱150-million confidential funds can be realigned for the education of indigenous peoples.
Duterte reiterated that the decision will be left to lawmakers but assured them that the funds will be used in the fight against crimes targeting teachers and students.
“Some of the issues and challenges are the drug involvement of personnel and learners, we already have a case where our teacher is selling drugs to our learners, all forms of abuses, physical abuse, sexual abuse and other forms of abuse… also the recruitment in violent extremism and terrorism, recruitment in insurgency… involvement of personnel and learners on child pornography,” she explained.
The department also said it will realign funds for special education which also became controversial due to zero funding.
RELATED: DepEd explains zero budget for special education
CNN Philippines correspondent Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
