Senators seek to increase 2025 OVP budget

MidanaoToday.com | Senators seek to increase 2025 OVP budget

By: Wilnard Bacelonia

MANILA – Senator Joel Villanueva and some of his colleagues are seeking to increase the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) from the PHP733 million approved by the House of Representatives under the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

Villanueva made the confirmation during an interview in Bocaue, Bulacan during a Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) payout by the Department of Labor and Employment on Friday.

“I’ve spoken to like four or five members na pareho ng aking pananaw na increasan ng budget ang Office of the Vice President mula doon sa GAB na ipinasa ng Congress (who share the same view as mine, to increase the budget and Office of the Vice President from that of the GAB passed by Congress),” Villanueva said.

Villanueva said Congress should consider that the proposed PHP2.03 billion of the OVP under the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP) went through the scrutiny of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Para sa akin lang kasi ‘yung more than half na ini-slash doon sa Vice President’s fund ng NEP, hindi ko po talaga makita na makatarungan sa isang opisina na itinuturing nating pangalawang pinakamataas na opisina ng pamahalaan (For me, the fact that more than half of the Vice President’s fund under NEP was slashed, I don’t really see it as fair to an office that we consider to be the second highest government office),” Villanueva said.

“I don’t look at personalities or whatever some politicians are looking at right now. I’m just after the office itself. The Office of the Vice President deserve more,” he added.

Villanueva said he is personally eyeing to increase the OVP 2025 budget by PHP100 million to PHP150 million, saying the range is “decent enough.”

He also expressed concern for the OVP staff who will possibly lose their jobs due to the budget cut.

He assured that he will respect whatever decision that the Senate, as a whole, comes up with.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros earlier vowed to vote against any move to increase the OVP budget if she will not be convinced with the explanation.

“As of today, I would vote against adding to the OVP budget for the reasons I stated. Unless meron talagang super, super, super duper good reason na makumbinsi pa naman ako (there is a really super, super, super duper good reason to convince me),” Hontiveros said Thursday during the regular Kapihan sa Senado.

On employees who might lose their jobs, Hontiveros said she will have to look at it first.

“Well, of course, ayaw naman natin mawala ng trabaho ang mga kasamang nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno. Pero kung ‘yan ang i-raise na dahilan, hihingin ko ‘yung mga detalye. Kasi kung naka-allocate sila sa mga regional offices, baka naman pwedeng i-place or ma-second sa regional offices (we don’t want those who work in the government to lose their jobs. But if that is the reason to be raised, I will ask for the details. Because if they are located in the regional offices, maybe they can be placed or seconded to the regional offices),” she said.

The PHP1.3-billion budget cut in the OVP’s 2025 proposed budget was reallocated by the House of Representatives to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program and Department of Health’s Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program. (PNA)

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