The bicameral conference committee approved on Wednesday the final version of House Bill No. 10800, outlining the proposed PHP6.352 trillion national budget for 2025.
The bicameral committee, composed of members from the Senate and the House of Representatives, conducted a meeting at the Manila Hotel, which was open to the public for observation.
In a report by RH Raymund Dadpaas, it was noted that the meeting was led by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senate Committee on Finance Chair Senator Grace Poe, and House Committee on Appropriations Chair AKO BICOL Party-list Representative Elizaldy Co.
The approved measure retained the PHP733 million budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP). However, funding for the Ayuda para sa Kapos at Kita Program (AKAP) was scaled down from PHP39 billion to PHP26 billion, as agreed upon by senators and representatives.
OVP’s budget was reduced from P2 billion to P733 million after Vice President Sara Duterte declined to answer lawmakers’ questions about the budget, including the matter on confidential funds.
The Senate approved the report through a motion by Senator Joel Villanueva, while in the House of Representatives, it was adopted following a motion by House Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe.
Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa withheld his signature on the bicam report, claiming that the commitment to give lawmakers sufficient time to study the final version was not upheld.
