House finalizes P1.3-billion OVP budget cut

Metro Manila, Philippines — The House of Representatives finalized its P1.3-billion cut on the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2025.

The OVP item in the General Appropriations Bill that will be forwarded to the Senate is down to P733.19 million from the original amount of P2.03 billion.

Ako BICOL party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, appropriations committee chairman, said funds were reallocated to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Program and DOH’s Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program will each receive P646.5 million.

“The House believes this amount could be more effectively allocated to existing agencies, enabling them to extend their services to the public more efficiently,” Co said in a statement on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

“Consolidating these responsibilities under the appropriate departments would not only eliminate costs associated with maintaining satellite offices but also streamline service delivery, reducing administrative overlap and minimizing confusion among beneficiaries,” he added.

House lawmakers earlier agreed to reduce Vice President Sara Duterte’s budget to avoid overlapping functions with other agencies.

The Commission on Audit has recommended a review of the OVP functions and expenditures to weigh the necessity of satellite offices, Co said. The OVP paid around P53 million on leasing 10 satellite offices and two extension offices last year.

Duterte only attended the first round of the House budget deliberations. She repeatedly said that she leaves the fate of the OVP budget to lawmakers.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.