Sen Villanueva criticizes House for cutting OVP budget

Senator Joel Villanueva expressed disagreement with the House Committee on Appropriations' decision to cut the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) proposed 2025 budget by more than half, emphasizing the importance of upholding long-standing traditions in Congress.

Villanueva noted that the House panel cited a lack of information during deliberations as the reason for slashing PHP1.29 billion from the OVP's requested PHP2 billion budget.

The senator highlighted that he has never seen a vice president attending a committee hearing on budget proposals, except when former Vice President Leni Robredo did so.

Villanueva suggested alternative methods to ensure transparency and accountability, such as filing resolutions or investigating confidential funds, rather than abruptly cutting the OVP's budget.

The House panel reduced the OVP’s proposed 2025 budget from PHP2.03 billion to PHP733 million, a figure similar to what was given to Robredo in 2022.

Lawmakers intend to reallocate the slashed funds to other government agencies like the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.