NO WAY
House ‘Young Guns’ reject proposed OVP budget hike, warn against ‘budol’ tactics
HOUSE “Young Guns” leaders on Monday rejected a proposal in the Senate aired by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to augment the approved P733-million 2025 budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP), citing inconsistencies in its spending justifications and warning against “budol” tactics aimed at misleading and confusing the public.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said there is ongoing discussion of additional… funding for the Office of the Vice President (OVP), led by Vice President Sara Duterte, citing a high demand for public assistance.
However, House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union and Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun of Zambales criticized the OVP’s inconsistent budgetary positions.
They pointed out that the OVP had previously deferred to Congress on its budget allocation but is now pushing for an increase, as articulated by Gatchalian.
“Parang paiba-iba ‘yung statement, Before they (OVP) told the House na bahala na po ang House of Representatives saka Senate kumbaga doon sa hatol sa budget nila, pero ngayon parang nag-iiba ‘yung statement,” Ortega pointed out.
Ortega emphasized that regional offices of agencies, like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH), are already well-positioned to provide the assistance that the OVP claims additional funds would address.
“Naka-setup naman po ang mga regional agencies natin eh, so maiiwasan pa nga na may duplication [of functions],” he said.
He added: “Pero paiba-iba ang statement. Siguro sinusubukan nilang ibudol-budol ‘yung mga iba dyan para ma-confuse para, ewan ko, parang gusto nila na maawa sa kanila. Mahirap na rin kasing paniwalaan dahil ‘yun nga parang budol-budol statement na naman eh.”
The lawmaker representing La Union’s first district insisted that the OVP failed to adequately present its programs during House budget hearings, undermining its credibility.
“Nakita po natin na hindi maipaliwanag ang mga programa na nilatag nila dito sa House of Representatives,” he explained. “Noong nakita namin na hindi maipaliwanag, wala naman pong gustong magpaliwanag, wala naman pong kaukulan na, sabi nga nila, ‘ika nga resibo na makita. Ano naman ang gagamitin mong rason para ituloy ang budget na iyon kung underutilized sya o hindi man lang nagamit ng maayos?”
Khonghun echoed Ortega’s skepticism, calling for greater accountability before any additional funding is considered.
He pointed to the alleged lack of transparency surrounding the OVP’s use of its P500 million in confidential funds, which has been the subject of congressional investigations.
