MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte was nowhere in sight at the House of Representatives today for the resumption of the deliberation of the 2025 proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President. Instead, she sent a letter to Speaker vMartin Romualdez and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co saying she has fulfilled all the necessary supporting documents and that the OVP defers to the discretion of the House Committee of Appropriations to decide on its funds.
“The [OVP] has submitted all necessary documentation to the House of Representatives – Committee on Appropriations, including a detailed presentation on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025,” Duterte said in a letter dated September 10.
“I have also articulated my position on the issues outlined in my opening statement during the previous hearing on 27 August 2024. We defer entirely to the discretion and judgment of the Committee regarding our budget proposal for the upcoming year,” she said.
As of posting, the OVP’s budget is under deliberations following its deferment last August 27.
House panel members decided to defer the hearing because lawmakers were dissatisfied with Duterte’s answers especially on the issue of confidential funds.
The OVP is requesting a P2.037 billion allocation for 2025.
