House panel moves to cut OVP budget of Sara Duterte from P2.04-B to P733 million

Summary

The Committee on Appropriations has recommended a reduced budget for the Office of the Vice President, amounting to a cut of 1.293 billion pesos. This decision is not yet final and is subject to further amendments and approval by Congress. The proposed budget cut will be allocated to two significant social protection programs: the DSWD's Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations and the DOH's Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients. The committee's decision is based on discussions from recent hearings, and the budget process involves multiple stages, including Senate deliberations and the President's approval.

Takeaways

• 🔹 The Committee on Appropriations recommended a reduced budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
• 🔹 The budget reduction is proposed to be split between the DSWD AX Program and the DOH MAIP Program.
• 🔹 The decision was unanimous among the 139 members of the committee, but it is not yet a final approval by Congress.
• 📅 The approved committee report, including the budget reduction recommendation, was read last night.
• 🗓️ The schedule for plenary debates on the bill as amended is set to begin on September 16, aiming to approve the General Appropriations Bill by September 25.
• ✂️ The proposed budget for the OVP was 2.037 billion, but the committee recommended a reduced amount of 733,199.8 million, indicating a cut of 1.293 billion.
• 💼 The specific items affected by the reduction include financial assistance, professional services, utility expenses, supplies and materials, and lease expenses.
• 🏥 The DSWD AX Program provides assistance for individuals in crisis situations, while the DOH MAIP Program offers medical assistance for indigent patients.
• 🔄 There will be another round of amendments during the plenary debates from September 16 to September 25.
• 🏛️ The budget approval process involves multiple stages, including Senate deliberations, bicameral meetings, and potential presidential approval or veto.

Q & A

What decision was made by the Committee on Appropriations regarding the budget for the Office of the Vice President?

The Committee on Appropriations decided to recommend a reduced budget for the Office of the Vice President.

How many members are there in the Committee on Appropriations?

There are 139 members in the Committee on Appropriations.

Was the decision to reduce the budget unanimous among the committee members?

Yes, the decision to reduce the budget was a unanimous decision among the members of the committee.

What is the current status of the budget recommendation for the OVP?

The budget recommendation is not yet a final approval by Congress; it is currently a recommendation by the Committee on Appropriations.

When is the approved committee report with the budget recommendation expected to be discussed in plenary?

The approved committee report with the budget recommendation is expected to be discussed in plenary beginning September 16.

What is the proposed budget for the OVP by the DBM, and what is the recommended amount by the Committee on Appropriations?

The DBM proposed a budget of 2.037 billion for the OVP, while the Committee on Appropriations recommended exactly 733,1998 million, which means a cut of 1.2931559 billion.

How will the reduced budget be allocated to other agencies and programs?

The reduction will be split between the DSWD AX program and the DOH MAIP program, which are social protection programs for individuals in crisis situations and medical assistance for indigent patients, respectively.

What specific items in the OVP budget are affected by the cut?

The items affected by the cut include financial assistance, professional services, utility expenses, supplies and materials, and lease expenses.

What is the total amount of the cut and how is it distributed?

The total cut amounts to 1.293 billion, which will be allocated to the two programs mentioned earlier.

Are there any further steps in the budget approval process after the plenary debates?

Yes, after the plenary debates, the House version of the bill will be sent to the Senate for deliberations. Following Senate approval, there will be a bicameral meeting, ratification, and finally, the President's approval, which may include vetoes on a line-item basis.

What is the significance of the two hearings mentioned in the script?

The two hearings are significant as they informed the decisions made regarding the budget cuts, focusing on the specific items that were affected.

Outlines

00:00

💼 Budget Reduction for the Office of the Vice President

The Committee on Appropriations has unanimously decided to recommend a reduced budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP). The proposed cut amounts to 1.293 billion pesos, which will be allocated to two social protection programs: the DSWD's Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and the DOH's Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIP). The committee, consisting of 139 members, has not yet given its final approval to Congress; instead, it has presented a recommendation. The committee report, which includes the budget reduction recommendation for the OVP, has been read and is set for plenary debates starting September 16. The goal is to approve the General Appropriations Bill on third reading by September 25. The specific items affected by the cut include financial assistance, professional services, utility expenses, supplies and materials, and lease expenses. The reasons behind these cuts are based on the findings from two recent hearings. The speaker also noted that there will be another round of amendments during the plenary debates from September 16 to September 25. The budget proposed by the DBM for the OVP was 2.037 billion pesos, but the committee recommended a reduced amount of 733.1998 million pesos.

05:02

📜 Budget Approval Process and Executive Role

The budget approval process is complex and involves many individuals, not just a few. After the budget is approved by Congress, it must go through Senate deliberations and then a bicameral meeting. Once the Senate approves its version, it will go through a ratification process where it returns to both Congress and the Senate. Finally, the President's approval is required, and it's important to note that the President has the power to veto on a line-item basis. This highlights the extensive and detailed nature of the budget approval process in the Philippines. The budget execution, once approved, is solely the responsibility of the executive branch.

Keywords

💡Committee on Appropriations

The Committee on Appropriations is a legislative body responsible for allocating funds to various government programs and departments. In the context of the video, this committee plays a critical role in deciding the budget allocation for the Office of the Vice President and other agencies. The script mentions that the committee has 139 members and has made a unanimous decision to recommend a reduced budget.

💡Budget Cut

A budget cut refers to a reduction in the amount of money allocated for a specific purpose. In the video, the committee has decided to recommend a budget cut for the Office of the Vice President, which is a significant action that affects the financial planning and operations of the office. The script specifies a cut of 1.293 billion, which is a substantial amount indicating a major financial adjustment.

💡DSWD AX Program

The DSWD AX Program stands for the Department of Social Welfare and Development Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations. It is one of the programs mentioned in the script that will receive a portion of the budget cut. This program is crucial for providing social protection to vulnerable individuals, and the script highlights its importance in the government's social protection initiatives.

💡DOH Maip Program

The DOH Maip Program refers to the Department of Health's Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients. Similar to the DSWD AX Program, it is another recipient of the budget reallocation discussed in the video. This program is essential for providing healthcare support to those who cannot afford it, underscoring the government's commitment to public health.

💡Plenary Debates

Plenary debates are discussions or deliberations held by the full membership of a legislative body, in this case, the Congress. The script mentions that the reduced budget recommendation will be subject to plenary debates, which are an essential part of the legislative process where members discuss and potentially amend the proposed budget before it can be approved.

💡General Appropriations Bill

The General Appropriations Bill is a proposed law that outlines the government's budget for a fiscal year. In the video, the speaker mentions that the committee's recommendation will be part of this bill, which will undergo further debates and amendments before it can be approved. It is a key document in the budgeting process, as it details how public funds will be spent.

💡Executive Branch

The executive branch of government is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws and managing the day-to-day operations of the state. In the context of the video, the speaker notes that once the budget is approved, the execution of the budget falls under the purview of the executive branch. This highlights the separation of powers and the checks and balances within the government structure.

💡Veto

A veto is the power of the executive, usually the President, to refuse to give assent to a bill, thus preventing it from becoming law. The script mentions that the President has the power to veto the budget, which is a critical check on the legislative process. It ensures that the executive has a say in the final approval of the budget.

💡Bicameral Meeting

A bicameral meeting refers to a meeting of both houses of a bicameral legislature, such as the Senate and the House of Representatives. The script indicates that after the Senate deliberations, there will be a bicameral meeting to reconcile any differences between the Senate and House versions of the budget bill before it can be ratified.

💡Ratification

Ratification in the context of legislation means the formal approval of a bill by the necessary authorities. The script mentions that after the bicameral meeting, the budget bill will need to be ratified, which involves a final review and approval by both the Congress and the Senate before it can be sent to the President for approval.

💡Line Item Veto

A line item veto allows the executive, typically the President, to reject specific parts of a bill while approving the rest. The script notes that the President can exercise a line item veto, which gives the executive precise control over the budget, allowing for adjustments to specific allocations without rejecting the entire budget.

Highlights

The Committee on Appropriations recommended a reduced budget for the Office of the Vice President.

The budget reduction will be split between the DSWD AX Program and the DOH MAIP Program.

The decision was unanimous among the 139 members of the committee.

The recommendation is not yet a final approval by Congress.

The approved committee report includes the reduced budget recommendation for the OVP.

The plenary debates for the bill, as amended, are scheduled to begin on September 16.

The general appropriations bill is hoped to be approved on third reading by September 25.

There will be another round of amendments during the plenary debates.

The proposed budget for the OVP was 2.037 billion, but the committee recommended 733.1998 million.

This means a cut of 1.2931559 billion will be allocated to two agencies.

The DSWD AX Program provides assistance for individuals in crisis situations.

The DOH MAIP Program offers medical assistance for indigent and financially incapacitated patients.

The specific items affected by the budget cut include financial assistance, professional services, utility expenses, and more.

The reasons for the budget cut are based on findings from two recent hearings.

The budget approval process is lengthy and involves many people.

After approval, the budget execution is solely by the executive branch.

Transcripts

yesterday the committee on

appropriations decided to recommend a

reduced budget for the office of the

vice president and the reduction shall

be split by the DSWD ax program and the

DOH maip

program so Ipapaliwanag ko lang po na

ang desisyon na ito ay isang committee

decision ang committee on appropriations

has 139 members

and with respect to the budget cut of

the ovp Ito po ay naging unanimous

decision among the members at lilinawin

ko rin po na hindi pa ito final approval

ng Congress Ito po ay recommendation pa

lang po ng committee on appropriations

for the plenary at kagabi naman po ay

nagse reading na rin po ang approved

committee report

na kung saan nakapaloob ang

recommendation ng reduced budget for the

ovp so which means

naka-cap bill as amended for plenary

debates Beginning September 16 and Uh

hopefully po Um kung masusunod po namin

ang schedule hopefully Sana po walang

masyadong mangyaring masyadong eventful

ay matatapos po namin maaprubahan on

third reading ang ah general

appropriations bill ah by September 25

So yun po at lilinawin ko rin po na

meron pang another round of amendments

ah at ito po will be sa plenary na po ah

doon na nga po on the week of September

16 to September 25

um so ang nangyari po is while the

office of the vice president Uh the dbm

proposed or recommended a budget of 2.03

7 billion for the ovp um kami naman po

ang committee on appropriations

yesterday

recommended to be exact

733

1998

million which means

ah merong cut of

1.293 1559 billion at ang reduction na

yyan

ay ililipat po sa dalawang ahensya and

as I had mentioned earlier um for two

programs the dsw DSWD ax program which

which is the assistance for individuals

in Crisis situations and the Doh

or the medical assistance for indigent

and financially incapacitated patients

In other words dalawa pong very

important Social protection programs ng

ating gobyerno so

ang specific items po na pinanggalingan

nitong total cut of

1.293

bilon a as follows

financial

assistance professional

services utility

expenses supplies and

materials as well as lease expenses and

Uh ang dahilan po kung bakit ang items

na ito ang naapektuhan lahat po ay

nanggaling po sa lahat po ng narinig po

natin doon po sa dalawang Hearings na

naganap um in the last Uh weeks so ah

Mamaya po kung meron kayong katanungan

on the details I can Uh provide those To

You So

um so siguro um just Uh one last note

Before I take in Uh

questions so again We have one more

round of amendments linawin ko hindi pa

ito um final approval ng Congress meron

pa tayong plenary debates and ah

pagkatapos po ah mapadala ang house

version of Gab to the Senate

ah magkakaroon Syempre ng Senate

deliberations after ma-approve ang

Senate version meron pang bicameral

meeting After that magkakaroon pa po ng

ratification meaning babalik pa po yan

To both Congress and the Senate and then

after that magkakaroon pa po ng

President's approval because as you know

um the President can veto and ang veto

po is Pwede po on a line item basis In

other words po ganon po kahaba ang

proseso ng ating budget approval budget

process at malinaw po na napakarami pong

tao na involved dito po sa pag-apruba ng

budget hindi lang po dalawang tao and of

course after the budget is approved alam

naman po natin ang budget execution is

Uh solely by the executive