House panel OKs 2022 budget of OVP

The House appropriations panel on Friday swiftly ended deliberations on the P713.41-million 2022 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), even as some lawmakers wanted it raised to at least P1 billion. Members of the House of Representatives cited interparlimentary courtesy in moving to terminate the hearing on the OVP’s budget. Vice President Leni Robredo herself went to the House to present her agency’s proposed funding for next year, which is 21 percent lower than 2021’s P908.79-million budget. Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro manifested that the OVP’s funding should at least be P1 billion and not P713.41 million, citing its consistently high audit ratings from the Commission on Audit. —Julie M. Aurelio