The House committee on appropriations on Wednesday swiftly terminated the hearing for the proposed PHP 2.3 billion budget for 2023 of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
During the deliberations of OVP’s budget on Wednesday, Minority Floor Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan moved to terminate the budget briefing as a sign of respect for Vice President Sara Duterte, who was personally present during the panel’s hearing.
"While some members of the Makabayan bloc would like to profound questions on some new items in the budget they also join us but rather they will (raise) profound questions in the plenary to extend courtesy to the Office of the Vice President and therefore, Mr. Speaker, I move that we terminate the budget briefing," he said.
The motion was seconded by House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe.
The OVP has proposed a PHP 2.3-billion budget for the fiscal year 2023, more than thrice of its allocated budget this year.
VP Duterte, in response, thanked the House for the courtesy, vowing to aid lawmakers if they need assistance in projects.
“Thank you for sharing this day with the Office of the Vice President, and thank you for your continued support to the budget and all the programs, activities, and projects of the Office of the Vice President,” Duterte said.
“We continue to support as well the legislative districts of our honorable members of the House of Representatives with all the meager projects of the [OVP]. And if there is anything that we can do to help you as an Office, in your respective mandates in your respective legislative districts and party lists, please do let us know; we are open to collaborations in helping our fellow Filipinos,” she added.
