ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro has expressed her opposition to the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) budget request for fiscal year 2025, particularly concerning the allocation intended for social aid.
Castro argued that the OVP should learn from its past, citing the office’s record of misusing confidential funds. She stressed that public funds should be allocated to the right programs, and a separate budget for social services should not be granted to an office with a questionable track record.
Specifically, Castro pointed to the Commission on Audit’s (COA) order for the OVP to return ₱73 million in disallowed confidential funds due to improper use.
“The COA’s findings are clear. If the OVP cannot properly manage its ₱73 million confidential funds, how can we trust them with an even larger budget? This is about protecting taxpayers’ money from potential misuse,” Castro stated.
During the OVP budget briefing, Castro noted that the Vice President failed to clarify how the public funds were spent. She emphasized that the budget for social services should be directly allocated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) rather than given separately to the OVP.
Castro suggested that, similar to senators, congressmen, and local government officials, the OVP should receive allocations through the DSWD if they have specific initiatives they wish to pursue.
Castro believes that this approach will ensure that the funds are properly managed.
“As lawmakers, we are simply fulfilling our duty,” she said. “It is our responsibility to scrutinize how public funds are spent. We owe it to the Filipino people to ensure that their money is used wisely, transparently, and for their benefit, not to enrich those in power,” Castro added.