Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he is hoping that the impasse between the House of Representatives and Vice President Sara Duterte will end soon in a more favorable note.

This, after the House of Representatives committee on appropriations recommended slashing the proposed Office of the Vice President (OVP) budget for 2025 from P2.037- billion to only P733.198 million.

Escudero, however, said he would not like to preempt what the House or the Senate leadership will do with the proposed 2025budget of the Office of the Vice President.

“The budget process is still on-going and I would not want to preempt the House or Senate,” Escudero said when sought to comment on the issue.

“Suffice it to say that it is possible given that Congress has the ‘power of the purse’ but has never happened to the OVP nor to any agency in recent years to my recollection,” the Senate leader recalled.

While she may seem to be nonchalant about the House’s move, Escudero said he is certain that the vice president cares for the programs and projects that she herself proposed.

Duterte had said her office is ready to work on a “zero budget” for next year.

“I am hopeful though that the seeming impasse between the OVP and the House will be resolved where either or both would take a step back, set aside their differences or biases, simply follow the process or, at the end of the day, for Congress, in the exercise of its wisdom, to decide on this and other related matters by a vote,” he said.

The Senate chief, however, warned that the current impasse won’t be beneficial to Filipinos.

“Budget deliberations are usually boring because of the numbers and while this whole thing is adding drama and color to it, I dont think this is in anyway helping resolve the problems our country and people are facing right now,” he said.

“I, therefore, urge and encourage heads of agencies, regardless of their fears, biases or prejudices, to go through the budget process and let Congress do its Constitutionally- mandated job,” he said.

Based on the recommendation of the House Committee on Appropriations, P1,293,159,000 would be removed from the original proposal of P2,026,357,000.

Slashed from the OVP’s proposed 2025 budget are:

• P200,000,000—supplies
• P92,408,000—personnel services for consultants
• P947,445,000—financial assistance
• P48,306,000—rent/lease expenses
• P5,000,000—utility expenses

The committee proposed transferring the funds to the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) of the Department of Health (DOH) (P646,580,000), and to the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).