The House of Representatives has given the Office of the Vice President another chance to be present when its proposed P2-billion budget for 2025 is deliberated in the House plenary.
Vice President Sara Duterte has yet to attend the ongoing plenary debates on the proposed P6.5-trillion General Appropriations Act to be present when the OVP budget is taken up.
In a letter to Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, the designated sponsor on the floor of the OVP budget, Duterte said she already presented an overview of the proposed allocations to the committee and that her office had already submitted the documents required.
Duterte said, “The OVP leaves the deliberation of our budget proposal in the plenary entirely to the pleasure of the House of Representatives.”
On Tuesday night, Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza said the House members expected the OVP to attend. By 9 p.m., there were still no representatives from the office.
“We want to make sure to give ample opportunities for the Office of the Vice President to make an appearance for our sponsorship and debate of all agencies,” Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza in moving for the inclusion anew of the OVP budget on Wednesday’s agenda.
“In light of giving another opportunity, please allow me to make a motion to include again for tomorrow’s schedule at 10 a.m., the Office of the Vice President,” he added.
With no objections, the House presided by Deputy Speaker Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong carried Daza’s motion.
Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon earlier said Duterte should resign if she was no longer interested in her duties.
“We waited the whole day and there’s still no appearance from the Office of the Vice President,” Daza said.
Duterte earlier accused House members of using the budget hearing for her office for politicking, adding the lawmakers are just making “a case for impeachment.”
The House is expected to approve on third and final reading the proposed P6.532-trillion national budget for next year on Wednesday. —NB, GMA Integrated News
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