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

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 remains at P733 million.

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

The bicameral conference committee on the bill for the 2025 national budget is now convened to reconcile the disagreeing provisions on the budget measure. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero & Speaker Martin Romualdez are present in the meeting. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/JtRkppsxvR

— Hana Bordey (@HanaBordey) November 28, 2024

This was confirmed by Senate finance committee chairperson Grace Poe.

"Kung ano 'yung napasa natin sa Senado at 'yun din pareho sa House, na-retain 'yung budget ng OVP," she said in a separate interview.

(What we passed in the Senate and the same in the House. The budget of the OVP has been retained.)

In explaining the decision, Poe said that this is the decision of the majority of the members of the bicam.

"This is a collegial body; lahat naman tayo meron tayong wish list na gusto nating mapagbigyan pero sa huli ang mananaig din yung mayorya," she said.

(We all have wish lists we want honored but in the end the majority will prevail.)

She reiterated that the OVP is still capable to offer social programs despite the reduced budget.

"Inesplika ko naman sa kanila na meron namang pagkakataon ang Office of the Vice President na tumulong pa rin. Meron silang social services allotment na P600 million na pwede nilang gamitin para dyan. Hindi naman sila nawalan at 'yun nga 'yung sinasabi ko noong umpisa pa lang, capacitated pa rin sila," Poe said.

(I already explained that the OVP still has the chance to help. They have a P600 million social services allotment. They are not deprived of funds and they are still capacitated.)

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. 

AKAP

Meanwhile, Poe said that the final version of the 2025 national budget has allotted P26 billion for Ayuda para sa Kapos and Kita Program (AKAP)—a cash aid program for minimum wage workers.

To recall, there was no allocation for the social aid program under the National Expenditure Program proposed by the Executive Department.

The House of Representatives allotted P39 billion for AKAP under its version of the GAB, but it was deleted entirely under the Senate versions.

Despite the Senate's previous decision, the bicameral body decided to restore funds for AKAP but lower than the previous proposal of the House of Representatives.

According to Poe, there has been a discussion on the funding of AKAP during the bicam and the members of the House of Representatives have explained the need for the said social program.

"'Yung AKAP ay inisiyatibo ng House of Representatives. So pagdating sa mga ganon, inisplika nila kung bakit ito ay isang paraan na mas makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan. Ito naman ay ating pinakinggan at pinagbigyan rin. Kaya lamang... napagkasunduan namin, na babaan ang pondo para sa AKAP," she said.

(AKAP was an initiative of the House of Representatives. They explained how it can help our countrymen. We listened and we allowed it. However, we agreed to lower the funding.)

"Mas lalo nating pinaklaro kung para saan ba ito. So ito ay para pantulong dun sa mga nangangailangan na minimum wage earners na apektado ng mga sitwasyon o kaya ng inflation ngayon," she added.

(We clarified its purpose. This is for the minimum wage earners affected by inflation.)

The guidelines for the distribution of AKAP have been clarified and the senators can now extend help through the program, Poe said.

During the bicam hearing, House appropriations committee chairperson Elizaldy Co said the final version of the budget contains initiatives that are aligned with the administration's goals.

"Bumuo tayo ng mga nararapat na hakbang tungo sa isang bagong yugto ng pagbabago at solusyon na higit sa nakagawian o nakasanayan ng mga nakaraang pagpupulong sa bicam," he said.

(Let us create appropriate steps toward a new chapter of change and solutions better than what we have become used to in past bicams.) 

"Ang mga inisyatibang ating itinaguyod ay hindi lamang simpleng paglayo sa tradisyonal na pamamaraan, kundi isang pagbabago ng pananaw na tumutugma sa mithiin ng ating pamahalaan at ng ating mga kababayan," he added.

(The initiatives we support are not just a distancing from traditional methods but a change of viewpoints that aligns with the goals of the government and our fellow Filipinos.)

Poe, for her part, said that the bicam "championed a budget that puts Filipinos first, with significant increases for social protection, livelihood programs, health, education, and disaster response."

"This means stronger safety nets for our most vulnerable, better healthcare for every family, and greater investments in the future of our children through improved schools and opportunities," she said.

Poe said the budget for the defense, justice, transportation, and infrastructure sectors were likewise increased.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the budget that was crafted was "in accordance with the plan of the president."

"Ano po ang ibig sabihin ng in accordance with the plan of the President? Hindi po dahil sipsip ang Kongreso, hindi po dahil sumusunod o sunud-sunuran lamang ang Senado at Kongreso sa kagustuhan ng pangulo," he said.

"Sinuportahan ito ng mahigit 31 milyon sa ating mga kababayan kaya marapat lamang na bilang mga miyembro ng kongreso, bigyang-daan natin na magawa niya ang kanyang ipinangako, magawa niya yung kanyang bisyon at plano para sa bansa ayun sa mandating binigay sa kanya ng mas nakararami sa ating mga kababayan," he added.

Speaker Martin Romualdez echoed this, saying the budget for 2025 "supports President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr's vision for a "Bagong Pilipinas."

"This partnership ensured that every peso is allocated to programs that matter most in putting food on every table, improving access to health care and education, creating jobs, higher take-home pay of our peace-keeping forces, relief aid to those in need, and building infrastructure that benefits communities nationwide," he said.

"More importantly, it is a commitment—a promise to bring tangible benefits to our people, strengthen our communities, and make their lives better," he added. — VAL/BM, GMA Integrated News