MANILA, Philippines — The P1.29 billion that a House of Representatives panel recommended stripping from the proposed P2.037 billion budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) next year should be allocated to education and other essential services.
House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said this regarding the House appropriations committee’s recommendation, which was earlier announced by Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo.
READ: OVP budget cut from P2 billion to P733 million by House panel
“The OVP budget cut also considered the personnel of the OVP, their benefits, and other necessary expenditures; that is why it is still substantial. However, it is clear that the socio-economic fund, which VP Sara Duterte failed to properly account for and justify, should be the focus of the cut,” Castro said.
She added that essential government services, particularly in education and other critical sectors, should be prioritized in deciding where the slashed funds would go.
Castro also said that the proposed P10 million budget for the publication of the book “Isang Kaibigan” should also be transferred to other support initiatives under the education department.
“Reallocating these funds to DepEd will better serve our students and educators, ensuring that resources are directed towards enhancing our educational system,” the lawmaker pointed out.
“We must ensure that every peso in the national budget is spent wisely and effectively. By redirecting funds to where they are most needed, we can provide better services and support to our citizens,” she added.
Earlier, Quimbo said the OVP budget was cut by P1.29 billion, reducing the original proposed budget of P2.037 billion to only P733.198 million.
The panel’s senior vice chairperson said the cut will be realigned to other government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH).
“The committee on appropriations decided to recommend a reduced budget for the Office of the Vice President and the reduction shall be split by the DSWD AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) program and the DOH MAIFIP (Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients) program,” Quimbo announced in a press briefing.