2 days Ago
Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday appeared before a House of Representatives committee hearing on the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) regarding the use of her office's budget. The public hearing was conducted by the House committee on good government and public accountability, chaired by Manila Representative Joel Chua. Duterte earlier said her office's social programs have been able to provide aid to 2 million beneficiaries.
Since she has refused to answer the lawmakers' questions on her office's budget, however, the House appropriations panel has recommended a P1.29 billion budget cut on Office of the Vice President's (OVP) P2-billion proposed budget for 2025. Last week, the House appropriations panel deferred for the second time the committee-level deliberations on the OVP's proposed budget.
This came after Duterte and members of her staff failed to attend the resumption of the House panel's deliberation on her office's budget proposal for next year. Duterte has said that the OVP can continue its work and operations next fiscal year even without a budget allocation . — Llanesca T.
Panti/ VDV, GMA Integrated News.
