DAVAO CITY — In a snap, the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday ended the deliberations on the Office of the Vice President’s proposed ₱2.3-billion budget for 2023 without blinking an eye.
The deliberation on the three-fold budget increase over last year is set to be tackled in the plenary.
Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio is asking for P2.3-billion, compared to the previous approved budget of P700 million during the last term of former Vice President Leni Robredo.
Duterte-Carpio is the concurrent Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
It was House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan who moved for the termination of the budget hearing deliberation which was seconded by Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe.
“While some members of the Makabayan bloc would like to propound questions on some of the new items in the budget, they also join us. Rather, they would propound questions in the plenary to extend our courtesy to the Office of the Vice President,” Libanan said.
Duterte-Carpio thanked the lawmakers for their support, saying she’s open to collaborate with them.
“If there’s anything that we can do to help you as an office in your respective mandates, respective legislative districts and party-lists, please do let us know. We are open to collaborations in helping our fellow Filipinos,” she said.
The documents submitted by the OVP to the House stated that the funds will be used for medical and burial assistance, free rides, and distribution of relief goods in 2023.
The OVP’s budget includes ₱500 million in confidential funds, which was not scrutinized by lawmakers.
