Hontiveros to fight OVP budget hike: ‘Super duper good reason’ is needed

Senate Committee Chair Senator Risa Hontiveros listens during the public hearing conducted by the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on the alleged illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hubs in Pampanga and Tarlac. Katherine Cassandra Li Ong and Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo Calugay make their first appearance before the committee. (INQUIRER file photo dated September 17, 2024 / RICHARD A. REYES)

MANILA,  Philippines — Opposition Senator Risa  Hontiveros is ready to argue against increasing the 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Speaking at the regular Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, Hontiveros expressed her belief that the P733.1 million budget for Vice President Sara Duterte’s office is already enough.

“I think sapat na yung level ng proposed budget ng OVP. Nakapag-operate na nga ang ibang mga OVPs in previous administrations sa ganyang level lang,” she said.

(I think the proposed budget level for the OVP is sufficient. Other OVPs in previous administrations have already operated at that level.)

Malacanang’s budget proposal for the OVP was P2.03 billion but it was slashed by P1.3 billion in the House of Representatives.

The House version was adopted by the Senate, but this amount is still subject to changes during the period of amendments in the plenary.

According to Hontiveros, she did not even change the House version which, she said, contains OVP programs that looked like a “repetition” of the existing programs of other agencies.

“Pero tingin ko, importante na yung P10 million para sa sariling akdang libro na idi-distribute, talagang mahirap makahanap ng justification na proper iyon,” said the senator.

(But I think it’s important to note that the P10 million for a self-authored book to be distributed is really hard to justify as appropriate.)

The P10 million was part of the OVP’s budget proposal  for the publication of  a children’s book written by  Duterte.

“So susubukan ko talaga na supportahan yung current level ng OVP budget. I don’t think kailangan pang baguhin ‘yan,” Hontiveros added.

(So I will really try to support the current level of the OVP budget. I don’t think it needs to be changed.)

At the proper time, she said she would argue that the P733 million budget for the OVP is already adequate.

“As of today, I would vote against adding to the OVP budget for the reasons I stated. Unless meron talagang super, super, super duper good reason na makumbinsi pa naman ako,” the senator said.

(Unless there is really a super, super, super duper good reason that could still convince me.)

Duterte earlier warned that the reduced budget of her office could result in the job loss of 200 contract of service personnel. 

Told about this, Hontiveros said she does not also want any government worker to lose his/her job.

“Itatanong ko po yung detalye nung ganyang dahilan at titimbangin ko kung sa huli, magiging super duper good reason pala sya,” she said.

(I will ask for the details of that reason and weigh it to see if, in the end, it will turn out to be a super duper good reason.)

NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.