MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Wednesday thanked the sponsor of its proposed 2024 budget amid the backlash it has received over its confidential funds.
In a statement, the OVP also thanked the entirety of the House of Representatives.
“The Office of the Vice President expresses its gratitude to the leaders and members of the House of Representatives for the budget deliberations today. We thank Rep. Maricar Zamora of Davao de Oro Province for representing the OVP as the lead budget sponsor — upholding the OVP’s mandate to serve the Filipinos and the country as the second-highest office of the land,” said the OVP.
The OVP’s confidential funds had been heavily criticized by lawmakers, with its necessity being questioned. The OVP under the previous administration did not have confidential funds.
The Office has also come under fire after the several revelations about its budget, one of which included an entry into its confidential funds from the Office of the President in 2022, which was not in the approved national program.
“The OVP is committed to serve and bring programs and projects with meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of Filipinos in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” the OVP said.
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