Sara Duterte: OVP in talks with GSIS for possible acquisition of Coconut Palace

Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday disclosed that her office is now in talks with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the possible acquisition of the Coconut Palace.

During the Senate finance committee hearing on the Office of the Vice President's proposed P2.3-billion budget for 2023, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III asked if the OVP already identified the lot that it will acquire for its permanent home as he noticed that there is a P10-million allotment for land acquisition.

"Right now, we are talking to GSIS (regarding the) properties under them that can be donated or sold to the Office of the Vice President as a permanent property of the Office of the Vice President," Duterte said.

"We are looking at one property only and that is the Coconut Palace, but there is no amount yet identified or given by GSIS but we are still looking at other properties as well of the government that can be used [or] given to the Office of the Vice President for a permanent office," she added.

The Vice President explained that the P10-million proposed allocation under the 2023 budget is for the preparation of a possible down payment to secure a contract.

Once the contract is secured, she said they will ask for additional amounts for multi-year payments of the property.

Although they plan on building a new structure for the OVP, Duterte said they intend to continue the satellite offices as these were meant to cascade the projects of the central office, particularly the medical and burial assistance.

When she assumed office, Duterte said they noticed that these aids are "concentrated" in the National Capital Region only and this prompted them to establish satellite offices to deliver these forms of assistance to other areas. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News