Metro Manila, Philippines – The Office of the Vice President has a chance to regain some of its reduced budget for 2025, thanks to a number of senators.
The House of Representatives cut the OVP budget by P1.29 billion to end at P733 million, taking Vice President Sara Duterte at her word in opting to skip plenary deliberations and letting lawmakers decide on the proposal.
Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri told the Kapihan sa Senado media forum on Thursday that the OVP’s controversial budget has been a conversation topic among senators.
“The appetite of the senators ha, I’m not saying me, I’m saying the discussions on the lounge is to increase nang kaunti ang budget ng OVP,” Zubiri said.
[Translation: The senators’ inclination – I’m not speaking for myself, but rather reflecting the discussions in the lounge – is to slightly increase the OVP budget.]
Zubiri recalled earlier remarks of Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Joel Villanueva expressing support for the OVP budget.
Asked if the Senate would consider restoring the entire P2.037-billion proposal, Zubiri said he could not provide a definite answer.
“So we’ll just wait for the final outcome. We will be discussing it on the floor. It’s too premature at this point in time to say what should happen and what would happen,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zubiri said he disagrees with some House lawmakers’ call for Duterte to resign for skipping budget briefings.
“Hindi naman tama siguro ‘yon (I don’t think that’s right). It’s her prerogative. She was elected by 31 million Filipinos,” he said.
Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the committee on finance, announced that the Senate expects to receive the General Appropriations Bill on Oct. 25.
