By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Grace Poe announced on Tuesday (November 5, 2024) that the Senate has decided to retain the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed budget of P733 million, the same amount approved by the House of Representatives under the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance explained that the decision to maintain the OVP’s budget was made after the office failed to submit the required additional documents.

“Yes, we reached out several times to the Office of the Vice President requesting them to submit documents that would clarify issues regarding their budget. However, they have yet to submit them as of today,” Poe said.

“So, we decided to retain the amount in the GAB, pending the submission and review of these documents,” she added.

Earlier, Senate President Chiz Escudero stated that the chamber will prioritize budget deliberations, pending bills, and local bills once the session resumes.

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