Photo courtesy from PTV

The House Committee on Appropriations has decided to significantly reduce the proposed budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2025, cutting it from P2.037 billion down to P733 million. Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo, the senior vice chair of the panel, shared this news in a press conference on Thursday, explaining the reasoning behind the unanimous decision.

So, where is the money going? The bulk of the OVP’s budget—about P1.293 billion—will be reallocated to two key social protection programs: the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and the Department of Health’s (DOH) Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP). Both programs are set to receive around P646 million each, Quimbo said.

The reasoning behind this shift is simple: these programs are already established and have been proven effective in delivering aid to those who need it most. “Why don’t we just transfer the funds for financial assistance to the national government agencies na subok na subok na?” Quimbo explained.

But why the cut in the first place? According to Quimbo, the OVP has been running 10 satellite offices and two extension offices, a significant departure from previous vice presidents, who typically maintained just one. Expenses like lease costs, financial assistance, and utility bills are being slashed, with the budget for office leases alone dropping from P80 million to P32 million.

The overlap in services is also a concern. The OVP has been offering medical and burial assistance, which Quimbo pointed out is already covered by national programs managed by the DSWD and DOH. On top of that, the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged issues with low utilization rates and problems in implementing the OVP’s social programs.

However, it’s important to note that this budget reduction isn’t final yet. “We have one more round of amendments. Lilinawin ko: hindi pa ito [ang] final approval ng Congress. Meron pa tayong plenary debates,” Quimbo clarified. The proposed budget still has to go through more discussions in both the House of Representatives and the Senate before it becomes official.

This decision comes after the House panel postponed deliberations on the OVP’s budget earlier this week, following Vice President Sara Duterte and her office’s absence at the second budget hearing. Duterte had previously submitted a letter to the House, deferring to the committee’s judgment on the OVP’s proposed budget for 2025.

In the end, the budget approval process involves many steps, from bicameral deliberations to potential approval or veto by the President. So, while the House panel has recommended the cut, there’s still a lot to unfold before any final decisions are made.