Photo credit: Teacher Stella Quimbo

The House Committee on Appropriations has made a significant cut to the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) budget proposal for 2025. Initially pegged at P2.03 billion, the budget has been trimmed to P733 million. This reduction amounts to a hefty P1.29 billion cut.

According to Senior Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo, the aim is to reallocate the funds to more pressing programs under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH). This move is intended to enhance the impact of these programs and better serve the needs of Filipinos.

Quimbo clarified, however, that this budget adjustment is not yet final. The proposal will undergo several more discussions and revisions before it becomes official. So, while this is a significant shift, it's not the last word on how the budget will shake out.