Lawmakers deny zero OVP budget talk in House

Metro Manila, Philippines – There was no discussion in the House of Representatives about zeroing out the proposed budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) lawmakers said on Thursday, Sept. 12.

In an interview with NewsWatch Plus on Thursday, Sept. 12, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said there is no truth to the statement of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Ewan ko sa kanya. Syempre, walang mga ganyang usap-usapan. Baka narinig niya lang ‘yan sa social media, suggestion ng taumbayan dahil sa pinaggagawa niya,” Castro said.

[Translation: I don't know about her. Of course, there are no such talks. She may have heard it on social media, suggestions by the public because of what she has been doing.]

She said funds are needed to pay salaries of OVP employees and supplies, among others.

But Castro is pushing to cut the OVP’s P2.04-billion proposal since some duplicate those of the Social Welfare and Education departments.

In a briefing also on Thursday, the House appropriations committee, in fact, recommended to cut the budget by P1.3 billion and realign the funds to the Social Welfare and Health departments.

“Itong mga project na ito na nakalagay sa socioeconomic programs niya ay pwede naman itong ibigay sa line agencies na talagang institutionalized na ‘yung kanilang mga guidelines, ‘yung kanilang mga rules. So, parang nagki-create kasi siya ng bureaucracy within a bureaucracy,” Castro said.

[Translation: These projects under her socioeconomic programs can be transferred to line agencies which have institutionalized guidelines and rules. So, it seems she is creating a bureaucracy within a bureaucracy.]

Castro also opposed allocating funds for OVP satellite offices - which the appropriation committee also substantially reduced - saying it might be used for campaigning.

She said if the vice president wants to pursue her satellite offices, she may do so with her own resources.

Castro said she opposed the P10-million budget for Duterte’s children’s book, “Isang Kaibigan,” which has a number of errors. The lawmaker suggested realigning the fund to the Department of Education (DepEd).

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon also said defunding the OVP was not raised in the Congress.

“Gustong-gusto po namin siya um-attend ng budget hearing para ma-explain ho sana sa’min kung ano ‘yung mga programa niya. Kasi kung nakikita po ng mga mambabatas na magiging maganda ‘yung programa niya, kami pa po mismo ‘yung magdadagdag ng pondo sa programa niya,” Bongalon told NewsWatch Plus.

[Translation: We want her to attend the budget hearing for her to explain her programs. If the lawmakers see that her programs are good, we would initiate giving her more funds.]

Duterte unfazed

In a video interview released on Wednesday, Duterte said she heard of possible budget defunding and a P1 budget for the OVP.

“Handa kami, handa ako, sa Office of the Vice President na magtrabaho kahit walang budget. Maliit lang ‘yung opisina namin. Maliit lang ‘yung operations namin kaya kayang-kaya namin na magtrahabo kahit walang budget,” Duterte said.

[Translation: We, at the Office of the Vice President, are ready to work even without a budget. Our office is small. We have little operations so we can work even without a budget.]

“Alam naman namin na kaparte ‘yan ng pag-atake. Kaya kami, tutuloy-tuloy lang din kami sa kailangan namin gawin para sa bayan,” she added.

[Translation: We know that it is part of the attack against me. So, we just continue what we need to for the nation.]

Duterte said there was no misuse of DepEd confidential funds when she was secretary.

During the first committee hearing on the OVP budget, Duterte repeatedly replied: “I will forgo the opportunity to defend the OVP 2025 budget proposal by question and answer and I will leave it to the House of Representatives to decide on the proposal.”

In an unprecedented move, the budget deliberations were suspended for a second hearing.

Duterte and other members of the OVP, did not attend the second budget hearing.

The House appropriations panel at the time decided to leave the fate of the OVP budget to the plenary.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report.