OP's proposed budget breezes through hearing

SEN. Grace Poe concluded the briefing on the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the President (OP) in less than 10 minutes. Presiding over the Finance Subcommittee A hearing on Monday, Poe acknowledged that some agencies under the OP, such as the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, helped in anti-crime initiatives, especially regarding the issue of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators. "The President has created the new presidential office for child protection, and I think it's high time for that, and many of us are very grateful to protect our children, the most vulnerable in society," she said. Senate President pro-tempore Jinggoy Estrada promptly proposed ratifying the President's budget, which the committee approved. Estrada moved to have the proposed OP budget deemed submitted to the plenary. He said the OP budget "is very crucial because this represents the midterm budget that will help the President to continue the programs that his administration has initiated effectively. Halfway towards the culmination of his term, the President should be provided with a budget that will enable us to achieve our goals, particularly those asserted in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028." Estrada highlighted the various programs that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has initiated to improve the economy, agriculture, livelihood, health, and education. "We can see these programs' positive impact on our fellow countrymen, particularly those most in need. It is important to continue implementing these programs diligently and to ensure thorough supervision and coordination among the different government departments," he said.