OVP Budget Request for 2026 Mirrors Current Year Amid Rejection
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) will seek a P733-million budget for 2026, matching this year’s allocation, Vice President Sara Duterte announced on June 16. She anticipates Congress will again reject any higher budget proposal, reflecting ongoing political tensions.
During a press briefing in Davao City, Duterte revealed that the OVP’s medical and burial assistance program will be discontinued. Additionally, the “PanSarap Project,” which provided nutritious buns to some learners, will also end. She emphasized that the OVP plans no new projects for 2026.
“Dahil inaasahan ko naman na hindi ibibigay yung budget ng Office of the Vice President dahil nga hindi kami naman kaalyado ng administrasyon at nakita na natin ‘yon noong nakaraang taon,” Duterte stated. This expectation stems from the OVP’s strained relationship with the current administration, which has led to budget cuts in previous years.
Political Tensions Affect OVP Funding
“Syempre, kung hindi ka sumusunod, hindi ka kaalyado ay di ka mabibigyan ng pondo para sa mga proyekto ng opisina mo. Kaya nag-desisyon ako kung ano yung budget na ibinigay ngayong taon na ito, ay iyon din ang budget,” she added. Duterte thus chose to request the same budget as in 2025 to avoid further cuts.
Despite this, she acknowledged adjusting the budget proposal slightly to account for inflation. Last year, Congress slashed the OVP’s P2.037-billion budget proposal by P1.3 billion to realign funds and eliminate redundancy, deepening the political divide.
OVP Staff Defended Amid Congressional Scrutiny
The budget dispute intensified alongside congressional inquiries into alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Vice President, which eventually led to impeachment proceedings in the lower house. Duterte strongly defended her staff, who faced tough questioning during the budget hearings.
“Ayaw kong napapahiya at pinapahiya yung mga ibang personnel ng Office of the Vice President lalong lalo na kapag nandun na sila sa House of Representatives or sa Senate na nakaharap yung ang ating mga miyembro ng Kongreso,” she said, highlighting her concern for their dignity during these politically charged sessions.
With the OVP preparing for a challenging 2026 budget cycle, the Vice President’s stance underscores the ongoing political rifts impacting government operations and funding.
For more news and updates on OVP budget request, visit Filipinokami.com.