After two weeks of plenary debates, the House of Representatives concluded budget deliberations for various agencies, including the Office of the Vice President (OVP), following President Marcos’ urgent certification of the 2025 national budget bill.
The House approved the P6.352-trillion General Appropriations Bill with a vote of 285-3, maintaining a reduced budget of P733 million for the OVP, significantly lower than Vice President Sara Duterte’s proposed P2 billion.
Speaker Martin Romualdez emphasized the importance of funding for the OVP to ensure its continued service to the public, despite calls from some lawmakers to further cut the budget.
The swift approval was facilitated by the President’s urgency certification, which allowed for expedited readings of the bill.
Additionally, the House aims to finalize the budget before Christmas to support crucial projects that enhance the lives of Filipinos.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 26, 2024
