House cuts OVP 2025 budget by more than half, reallocates PHP1.29B for social services

The House Committee on Appropriations has recommended reducing the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) proposed PHP2.1 billion 2025 budget by more than half to PHP733 million, reallocating PHP1.29 billion for social services under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH).

Almost half of OVP's financial assistance, professional services, utility expenses, supplies and materials, and lease expenses will be reallocated to social protection programs under DSWD and DOH.

Vice President Sara Duterte responded by saying she is ready to work with a zero budget in 2025 as her office can operate even without funds due to minimal operations.

The allocation for lease expenses would be reduced from PHP80 million to PHP32 million, reverting to the 2022 spending level when previous vice presidents maintained a single office.

House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro suggested that the reallocated P1.29 billion should instead go towards education and other essential services, emphasizing the importance of reallocating funds for better service delivery.

Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo cited three reasons for the budget cut: the high cost of leasing multiple satellite offices nationwide, overlapping programs with other agencies, and the Commission on Audit's findings on low budget utilization and implementation problems.