Senate retains P733M OVP budget, pending document submission

The Senate has retained the proposed P733-million budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in its 10800 General Appropriations Bill, as approved by the House of Representatives.

Senator Grace Poe, who heads the Senate finance committee, confirmed this decision after multiple requests to the OVP for necessary documents went unanswered.

The House had previously reduced the OVP's proposed P2.037-billion budget to P733.198 million, reallocating funds to other government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH).

Representative Stella Quimbo noted that this reduction would impact social service programs managed by the OVP.

The Senate committee's decision is pending further submission and review of documents from the OVP.

Under the 2025 National Expenditure Program, funds have been redirected to support DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program and DOH’s Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program.