Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has expressed his intent to restore the budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) after the House of Representatives significantly reduced it. The House cut the OVP’s proposed P2.037 billion budget to P733.2 million, reallocating funds from key programs to other government agencies.
In an interview with dwIZ, Estrada emphasized the Senate’s commitment to upholding the “time-honored tradition” of respecting the budgets of the President and Vice President, ensuring its swift approval. “How can her office function if you slash her budget? I will try to restore the budget. Remember, she is the second-highest official in the country. She deserves some respect and dignity,” Estrada said.
The budget cut follows a conflict between Vice President Sara Duterte and lawmakers, with Duterte accusing them of politicizing the budget process. Estrada noted that while the Senate leadership would allow the minority to scrutinize the budget, intervention would occur if the cuts could not be justified.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino added that any discrepancies between the Senate and House versions of the budget would be addressed in the bicameral conference committee. “The final version will depend on the Senate plenary, and any differences with the House version will be resolved in the bicam,” Tolentino explained.