黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� More than five senators have so far signified their intent to increase the 2025 funding of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), at least according to Sen. Joel Villanueva.

Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview on Friday, Villanueva said apart from himself, he had talked to at least four or five Senators regarding the budget increase.

鈥淚鈥檝e spoken to like four or five members na pareho ng aking pananaw na increase-an ang budget ng OVP mula doon sa General Appropriations Bill (GAB) na ipinasa ng Congress,鈥� said Villanueva.

(I鈥檝e spoken to like four or five members who share my view of increasing the budget of the OVP from that in the GAB passed by Congress.)

While he refused to give specifics on what they talked about, Villanueva said he, himself, has been consistent and vocal about his stance on the P1.29 billion cut made by the lower chamber in the OVP鈥檚 funding for next year.

鈥淎s I mentioned earlier, I鈥檓 also in that position to somehow increase the budget, not necessarily restore everything. I鈥檓 sure, I鈥檓 sure, there鈥檚 no problem with what the House did,鈥� he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

鈥淏ut to increase 鈥� that, I hear a lot from our colleagues. And I, for one, would like to put some more. Because it鈥檚 like, if you look at the office, and we shouldn鈥檛 be looking at whoever is sitting there as the vice president, right? We should not be looking at the personalities involved here. So, I鈥檓 looking at the office, and I feel like we need to put some more social funds that our vice president can use. Because that鈥檚 the vice president鈥檚 office,鈥� he added in a mix of Filipino and English.

The House of Representatives on September 12 recommended slashing the proposed OVP budget of P2.037 billion for 2025 to only P733.198 million.

Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, the panel鈥檚 senior vice chairperson, said the OVP budget was cut by P1.29 billion, adding that lawmakers intend to realign this fund to other government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health.

Not less than P150M increase

In the same interview, Villanueva was pressed if it was in his immediate plans to bat for a P2 billion increase in the OVP鈥檚 budget, but he denied such allegations.

He said could only speak for himself, emphasizing that he can鈥檛 see a justified reason for the OVP鈥檚 fund 鈥� which was greenlighted by the President himself 鈥� to be slashed in half.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 look at personalities, I don鈥檛 look at whatever some politicians are looking at right now, I鈥檓 just after the office itself. The office of the vice president deserves more,鈥� he said.

鈥淪o, I鈥檓 looking at increasing the budget of the Vice President. We have yet to discuss the exact amount. [But], for me, at least a hundred, a hundred fifty is decent enough to increase the budget. So, we鈥檒l see,鈥� he added.

Being the chairperson of the Senate鈥檚 panel on labor, Villanueva said a part of his considerations also include those employees of the OVP office who would be laid off and affected by the budget deduction.