Even with the controversial P1.3 billion budget slashed from the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Senate Finance Committee chair Senator Grace Poe said the office can still perform its mandate with P733 million.
In a press conference on Wednesday, November 27, Poe said that members of the Upper Chamber believe that the OVP remains "capacitated" with its current budget.
To recall, the House of Representatives slashed P1.3 billion from the OVP's proposed 2025 budget in its General Appropriations Bill (GAB) version. The Senate retained this.
Voting 18-0-1, the Senate approved on third and final reading on Tuesday, Nov. 26, House Bill 10800 or the P6.352 trillion 2025 GAB. Only Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III abstained.
"Well, unang-una, sinigurado natin na yung mga socio-economic programs, sinigurado natin na yung mga socio-economic programs ng OVP ay nandun pa rin (First of all, we made sure that the socio-economic programs of the OVP are still in place)," Poe said.
"Kasi, dun sa kabuuan nilang budget, P600 million doon pwede nilang gamitin for social programs. In fact, nagsubmit sila sa amin, nung mga social programs nila, meron doon medical assistance, burial assistance, libreng sakay. Sila mismo naglagay kung saan nila gustong pondohan dun sa P600 million (In their overall budget, they can allocate P600 million for social programs. In fact, they submitted to us their social programs to us, which include medical assistance, burial assistance, and free transportation. They themselves specified where they want to allocate the P600 million)," she explained.
Poe said that they had given Vice President Sara Duterte the opportunity to provide justification to increase their budget, yet there hasn't been any formal request from the OVP regarding this.
She said it is imperative for OVP officials to formally present a request, provide a breakdown of the programs and justification for why their fund should be raised.
Poe refused to disclose who among her colleagues pushed to increase the OVP budget. But she said this is not yet the end of the line for the OVP budget.
"Malay natin, pagdating sa bicam, meron na silang formal request and written letter na nagsasabing gusto nila kasi kailangan talaga nila itong mga programang ito. Subalit, sinigurado natin na meron silang kakayanan na gawin pa rin ang kanilang mandato (We know that when it comes to the bicameral discussions, they already have a formal request and a written letter stating that they want this because they really need these programs. However, we ensured that they still have the capacity to fulfill their mandate)," Poe said.
"Tandaan natin na hindi naman nakatali namang sa budget ang pagiging epektibo sa iyong pamamalatad. Nasa pagtutulungan rin yan sa ibang ahensya ng gobyerno. Kaya nga,' pag sinasabi natin redundancy, halimbawa, yung mga assistance for indigents, yan talaga ay responsibilidad ng DSWD (Let’s remember that being effective in your presentation isn’t solely tied to the budget. It also depends on collaboration with other government agencies. For instance, when we talk about redundancy, such as assistance for the indigent, that is truly the responsibility of the DSWD)," she added.
Poe also recalled that the OVP has been operating within this budget range in the past.
"Remember, historically, yung budget ng OVP about that range. Tumaas lang talaga noong 2023 by leaps and bounds. Hindi natin alam kung bakit (Remember, historically, the budget for the OVP has been around that range. It really increased significantly in 2023. We don't know why)," she said.
Aside from the OVP budget, the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) will also be determined during the upcoming bicameral conference committee (bicam) meeting. AKAP was also inserted by the House but was deleted by Senator Imee Marcos.
The AKAP program, instead of being implemented in the Senate as intended, has turned into additional funding for senior citizens' retirement pensions and extra support for the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi CIDSS) program, which includes college assistance and childcare assistance. It has also provided additional funding for livelihood programs for farmers and fisherfolk.
AFP budget
Meanwhile, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa lauded the Senate's restoration of the P50 billion original proposed funding for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program which is essentially fighting for the country's sovereignty.
He made this remark as he lauded the Senate for standing firm that there is a need for the AFP to continue its modernization program.
"I would like first to express my utmost gratitude to our Chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Senator Grace Poe for not only restoring the National Expenditure Program level of the Revised AFP Modernization Program at ₱50 billion but also in effect fighting for the freedom and sovereignty of our country," Dela Rosa said.
"I am certain that this additional funding for our armed forces will not only bring them new and technologically advanced military equipment but perhaps most importantly, boost their morale and confidence. You made them feel that they are not alone in defending our motherland," the Mindanaoan lawmaker added.
The Senate has approved House Bill No. 10800 or the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on third and final reading last Tuesday.
It was Dela Rosa who first disclosed the House of Representatives’ move to reduce the P50 billion for AFP Modernization Program as proposed in the National Expenditures Program (NEP) to P40 billion in the lower house's version of the GAB.
He earlier slammed the House's move to slash the budget for AFP modernization by P10 billion, noting that the budget reduction to the modernization program is contrary to the pronouncements of politicians who appeared to be supportive of the AFP whenever they were being harmed while protecting the country's territories, particularly the West Philippine Sea.
Dela Rosa, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, said it will affect the morale of the soldiers.