OVP 2023 budget defended

Senator Sonny Angara on Monday defended the proposed P2.29 billion budget of the Office of the Vice President for fiscal year 2023.

Angara, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, stressed that the Vice President is the second highest office of the land that deserves support.

“Out of respect, we had never decreased the budget of the Office of the Vice President. I’d rather it won’t happen under my watch as the committee chair,” Angara said during the Senate’s hearing on the OVP budget for next year.

But Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said that the P2.29 billion is more than three times the budget of the previous fiscal year.

“Is there a rule on the limit of the budget of the Vice President?” Pimentel asked.

“I’m not aware. This is being provided by the Department of Budget and Management. So, I think it’s not arbitrary amount in that sense,” Angara replied.

“I don’t think there are hardened past rules on this, but if we follow the trend, we’ve been increasing the budget of the OVP over the past years,” Angara added.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed full support for the Office of the Vice President.

Go said Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte will surely work closely with the President to ensure that all programs and policies of the OVP will be deemed accessible to more Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda acknowledged the presence of Duterte during the budget deliberations.