House starts plenary debates for P6.352-trillion 2025 national budget

House of Representatives plenary. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives will start its plenary debates on the proposed P6.352-trillion 2025 national budget on Monday (September 16).

Under its schedule, the lower chamber is expected to conduct the plenary debates for eight days from September 16 to 25.

Based on a statement released by Speaker Martin Romualdez, the deliberations will start with the sponsorship speech of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, followed by the debates on general principles and the budgets of the Department of Finance, Department of Justice, and National Economic and Development Authority, including their attached agencies, the judiciary, and lump sums.

READ: OVP budget cut from P2 billion to P733 million by House panel
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1982541/ovp-budget-cut-recommended-by-house-appropriations-panel#ixzz8ltU5Ef5g

This is followed by the Office of the Ombudsman, the Commission on Human Rights, including the Human Rights Violations’ Memorial Commission, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Tourism, and Development of Labor and Employment, and their attached agencies on September 17.

Below is the list of other agencies and their respective schedules:

September 18

• Commission on Elections
• Department of Agrarian Reform
• Department of Foreign Affairs
• Department of Trade and Industry
• Several executive offices and state colleges and universities

September 19

• Department of National Defense
• Department of Migrant Workers
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and their attached agencies, and budgetary support to a number of government corporations

September 20

• Presidential Communications Office
• Department of Science and Technology
• Metro Manila Development Authority, among other executive offices and government corporations

According to Romualdez, the budgets of the remaining departments, agencies, and executive offices will be discussed from September 23 to 25.

Meanwhile, the budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) will be tackled on September 23.

Last September 12, the House committee on appropriations recommended slashing the proposed Office of the Vice President (OVP) budget of P2.037 billion for 2025 to only P733.198 million.

Panel senior vice chairperson and Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo said the OVP budget was cut by P1.29 billion, affecting the social service programs of Vice President Sara Duterte’s office, and that lawmakers intend to realign that money to other government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH).

The slashed fund would be allocated to DSWD Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and the DOH Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients programs.