OVP proposes higher budget in 2026 at P903M

The proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2026 has increased by P170 million from the current fiscal year, OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo said Wednesday. 

At a press conference, Castelo said the OVP, under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte, initially made a proposal of P733 million for next year, retaining the office’s 2025 budget. 

However, Castelo said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) increased the proposed budget to P803.6 million, which further grew to a total of P903 million, upon the request of the OVP. 

“So nagdagdag sila…ng less than P70 million, mga P60 something million. And then, nung nagdagdag sila ng P60 something million, we requested for additional personnel services,” she said in an ambush interview.

(So they added…less than P70 million, about P60 something million. And then, when they added P60 something million, we requested a higher budget for additional personnel services.) 

“Siyempre may cost ‘yun…na additional employees para mas ma-fulfill yung functions and other IT equipment that are needed for the OVP. Ang binigay na final ng DBM is P903 million,” she added. 

(Of course there is a cost for additional employees to better fulfill the functions of the office, and other IT equipment that are needed for the OVP. The final budget given by DBM is P903 million.) 

Castelo also confirmed that the OVP will not be requesting any confidential funds for next year. 

“No confidential funds. Hindi naman na tayo nag-request niyan [we didn’t request]… If they want to give, they want to give,” she explained. 

Asked how confident is the OVP that Congress will approve the P903 million budget request for next year, Castelo said, “We can just hope and pray that they see the need for this budget.”

She also affirmed that the OVP staff will be attending the budget hearings, both at the Senate and House of Representatives. 

Last year, the House decided to reduce the budget of the OVP from the originally proposed P2 billion to P733 million amid Duterte’s refusal to answer lawmakers’ questions on OVP budget use, including confidential funds.

The Senate retained the House-introduced budget cut despite calls from Duterte's allies to restore some of the OVP's proposed funding for social services.

The Vice President lamented the budget cut, saying that around 200 OVP personnel could lose their jobs and some projects of her office would have to be halted. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News