Senate OKs OVP’s P733M allocation, but Go seeks to restore budget cuts | INQToday

Summary

On November 13, 2024, the Philippine Senate discussed the proposed 2025 budget for Vice President Sara Duterte's office. Senators B de L Roa and Bongo, both Duterte allies, sought to restore the OVP’s original PHP 2.03 billion budget, despite a PHP 1.3 billion reduction made by the House. The budget for the OVP was reduced to PHP 733 million, which was defended by Senator Grace Poe. The Senate approved the PHP 733 million budget, though it will still undergo amendments before the final vote.

Takeaways

• 😀 Senator B de L Roa plans to introduce amendments to restore the original 2025 budget proposal for Vice President Sara Duterte's office.
• 😀 The House of Representatives had cut the OVP's proposed budget by 1.3 billion pesos, leaving only 733 million pesos.
• 😀 Senator Bongo, an ally of the Duterte administration, advocates for raising the OVP's budget to 2.03 billion pesos, arguing that some OVP programs overlap with other agencies.
• 😀 Senator Grace Poe, head of the Senate Finance Committee, takes note of the proposed amendments but remains focused on defending the budget.
• 😀 Senator B de L Roa moves to approve the 733 million pesos allocation for the OVP in 2025.
• 😀 Senator Cynthia Villar seconds the motion for approval of the 733 million pesos budget for the OVP.
• 😀 The motion to approve the 733 million pesos allocation for the OVP passes without objections.
• 😀 The budget for the OVP will undergo a period of amendments before the Senate votes on the final version in the third reading.
• 😀 There is ongoing debate in the Senate regarding the appropriate funding levels for the Office of the Vice President.
• 😀 The debate over the OVP's budget highlights divisions between Duterte allies and other senators about fiscal priorities.

Q & A

What was the main topic discussed during the Senate session on November 13, 2024?

The main topic discussed was the proposed 2025 budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Who introduced amendments to the OVP budget, and what was their proposal?

Senator B de L Roa introduced amendments to the OVP budget, proposing to restore the original budget amount of 2.03 billion pesos for the OVP.

Why was the OVP budget reduced by 1.3 billion pesos?

The reduction in the OVP budget by 1.3 billion pesos was made by the House of Representatives.

What budget was left for the OVP after the House's reduction?

After the House's reduction, the OVP was left with a budget of only 733 million pesos.

Who defended the OVP budget in the Senate, and what was their position?

Senator Grace Poe defended the OVP budget as the head of the Senate Committee on Finance.

What motion did Senator Roa make regarding the OVP budget?

Senator Roa made a motion to approve the 733 million pesos budget for the OVP for 2025.

Who seconded Senator Roa's motion?

Senator Cynthia Villar seconded Senator Roa's motion.

Was there any opposition to the motion for the OVP budget?

No, the motion for the 733 million pesos OVP budget was approved without any objections.

What will happen next regarding the OVP budget after the approval of the motion?

The OVP budget will undergo a period of amendments before the Senate votes on the final version during the third reading.

What was the primary concern raised by Senator Bongo regarding the OVP's budget?

Senator Bongo's primary concern was to raise or restore the OVP's original proposed budget of 2.03 billion pesos.