The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations on Monday terminated the deliberations on the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the President (OP).
The panel, chaired by Rep. Elizaldy Co of party-list Ako Bicol party-list group, took only less than 20 minutes to tackle the OP’s proposed budget amounting to P10.5 billion — down 1.88 percent from this year’s budget.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in his remarks before the legislators, said the OP will fully cooperate with Congress to fulfill its constitutional mandate as the keeper of the purse and maintain a cooperative relationship with its “co-equal” branch of government.
“I am taking this opportunity, your Honors, to convey the President’s view on our existing legislative relations which is anchored on the principle that governance will be significantly improved through the efforts of our branches, to work alongside each other with utmost respect for each other’s mandate,” Bersamin said.
He added the reduced OP budget would be “sufficient and adequate” to support Mr. Marcos’ responsibilities as the head of state and of government, the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy, and the commander-in-chief.
“We have determined that the reduction in the budget being proposed will not affect the delivery of services by the President to the people,” Bersamin said.
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