Senate panel approves OVP's proposed 2027 budget; Sara Duterte no-show

A Senate finance subcommittee panel on Tuesday morning quickly approved the proposed P785.2 million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for fiscal year 2027.

Vice President Sara Duterte was not present during the budget briefing, but the OVP was represented by its chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, and other officials.

Senator Imee Marcos moved to extend the traditional courtesy to the OVP and endorse it to the plenary with no much discussions and interpellations. This was seconded by Senator Bong Go.

Senator JV Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, approved the motion. The briefing was terminated after 16 minutes.

“This representation acknowledges the tradition of interparliamentary courtesy with respect to the Office of the Vice President while also assuring the public that the fiscal year 2027 proposed expenditure is taken up with due diligence,” Ejercito said.

The OVP has proposed a P785.204-million budget for 2027, 11.7% lower than its P889.236-million appropriated budget for 2026.

Where is VP Sara?

Before the briefing was suspended, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian asked where the Vice President was.

“The Vice President is actually representing former president Rodrigo Duterte in the inurnment of our long serving city planner in Davao City. The schedule for the inurnment is today, October 20. So she’s the representative of the former president,” Lopez answered.

Lopez said that the ceremony is being held in the country.

Gatchalian noted that during budget deliberations, heads of office traditionally go to Congress to defend the proposed budget of their respective agencies.

The Senate President also highlighted the 11% reduction in the OVP’s proposed 2027 budget as compared to the current fiscal year.

Regardless, he said he observed that the OVP has been “spending their budget as efficiently, as wisely as possible.”

“Of course, bilang Vice President, meron din silang mga kailangang tulungan. Tayong mga politicians, marami talagang lumalapit sa amin eh. I’m sure kay Vice President, marami ring lumalapit, humihingi ng tulong. Itong socioeconomic programs will be a tool for her to help her constituents or our constituents,” Gatchalian said.

(Of course, as Vice President, they also have people who need help. As politicians, many people really come to us for help. I’m sure that for the Vice President, many people also come to her for help. These socioeconomic programs will be a tool for her to help her constituents or our constituents.) —AOL, GMA News