Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Speaks on Congress’ Power to Give Zero Budget To Office
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President admitted that the Congress has the power to give a zero budget but it has never happened to the OVP.
The Office of the Vice President is asking for a P2 billion budget for 2025 as previously announced by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). It does not anymore include Confidential Funds. To recall, in 2023, Vice President Sara Duterte earned backlash for the CIFs spending of her office.
However, the P2 billion budget proposal of the OVP includes the P10 million budget allotted for the distribution of the book authored by VP Sara Duterte. Amid her office defending the purpose of the book, countless netizens had negative reactions to it.
Vice Pres. Duterte also had a spar with some House members and Senator Risa Hontiveros during the budget deliberation in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The deliberation of the budget proposal of the OVP for 2025 was moved. However, at the resumption of budget proposal’s deliberation, Vice Pres. Duterte was no show. It left several members of the House disappointed for “insulting” the Congress.
ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro even called the Vice President “bratinella to the max” for skipping the House deliberation. After it, there were rumors that the OVP may be defunded or given a zero budget for 2025.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte expressed that the OVP is ready to work even without a budget. According to her, the OVP is only a small office and they can continue on their work.
Recently, Senate President Chiz Escudero broke his silence on the talks that the OVP mau be defunded or given a zero budget for 2025. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Senate President admitted that it is possible.
“It is possible given that the Congress has the ‘power of the purse’, but has never happened to the OVP nor to any agency in recent years to my recollection,” Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero said.
Based on the report, Escudero expressed his hope that the issue between the House and the OVP will be resolved. He stressed his belief that while drama may add color to the “boring” budget deliberations, it is not, in any way, helping in fixing the problems of the country.
Conduct unbecoming of a public official; Sarah Duterte’s true colors!
For d opposition (NA-IINGGIT) on d POPULARITY OF INDAY – SARAH DUTERTE, ….WE, who are followers of d DU30’S … BELIEVED THEY ARE NOT D KIND OF CORRUPT OFFICIALS to serve for d welfare of d Nation & its People.
indai Sarah as far as i knowshe is not a corrupt politician,the budget of the OVP goes to the people as what he promise during her campaign. kayasaludo kami sa vice pres. marami siyang natulongan particularly kaming mga mahihirap.nakita namin sa budget hearing na parang pinahirapan cya lalo na yong quimbo at convicted france castro.