Bicam OKs final version of 2025 nat’l budget bill; retains P733M for OVP

(UNITED NEWS) The bicameral conference committee has approved the final version of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which contains the P6.352 trillion national budget plan for next year.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said that the budget for the Office of the Vice President remained at P733 million.

“As is,” Estrada said when asked of the OVP budget for 2025 under the bicam report.

The House’s decision to reduce the budget of the OVP from the originally proposed P2 billion to P733 million came amid Vice President Sara Duterte’s refusal to answer lawmakers’ questions on OVP budget use, including confidential funds.

The Senate has retained the House-introduced budget cut despite calls from Duterte’s allies to restore some of OVP’s proposed funding for social services.

Duterte earlier said that around 200 personnel of the OVP could lose their jobs should the reduced budget of the office for next year amounting to P733 million be approved under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

She also said that some projects of the OVP, specifically the free bus rides and financial assistance provided in its satellite offices, may be affected by the proposed cuts in the OVP’s 2025 budget.