The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has expressed confidence in defending its proposed P903 million budget for 2026, despite anticipated scrutiny from lawmakers during congressional deliberations.
OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo said the agency is prepared to justify its programs and spending plans, highlighting that all initiatives are properly documented and aligned with the office’s mandate.
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Prepared for Questions
“The funds per project are already lined up and the Office of the Vice President can justify these programs,” Castelo explained in Filipino during an interview on TMT Newsroom.
She added that the OVP would welcome any potential increase in its allocation, noting that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had already raised its proposed budget from the initially submitted P733 million to P903 million. The adjustment covers additional personnel services and improvements in the office’s information technology systems.
“Ang binigay na final ng DBM is P903 million,” Castelo noted.
Facing Scrutiny and Defending Performance
Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc earlier signaled plans to closely examine the OVP’s funding request, especially amid calls for Vice President Sara Duterte to address allegations raised in an impeachment complaint pending in the Senate.
In response, Castelo emphasized that the OVP has consistently earned an unmodified audit opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA) over the past three years, reflecting sound financial management and compliance.
“Of course, there are observations for the improvement of our system for next year but it means that in all material respects, the COA saw how the funds were spent wisely, the documentation was proper, and there are no problems,” Castelo pointed out.
Balancing Priorities and Past Criticisms
In June, Vice President Duterte mentioned that she chose not to propose a significantly higher budget for 2026, partly to avoid placing OVP officials in uncomfortable situations during deliberations. Duterte has not yet confirmed if she will personally appear before lawmakers to defend the budget.
Last year, Congress cut the OVP’s allocation by more than half following questions over items such as P10 million for the production of Duterte’s book “Isang Kaibigan” and the rapid use of P125 million in confidential funds over 11 days.
Despite these controversies, the OVP said it remains ready to explain its spending and outline how the requested funds will support its work in the coming year.
