Metro Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives approved the 2026 budget bill on second reading on Friday, Oct. 10, again with a substantial cut in the proposal of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
The national expenditure program submitted by the Budget Department to the House recommended P889.24 million for the OVP, but lawmakers reduced this to P733.2 million, close to the current outlay, in response to the absence of Vice President Sara Duterte to help defend her budget during the plenary debates.
“Let me then again put this on record: VP Sara Duterte’s repeated refusal to face this chamber is an insult. It spits on the duty of accountability, while she clings to millions in public funds she refuses to explain,” Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima said during the introduction of amendments to the bill.
“Public money is not a toy. Hindi ito pabuya na pinamimigay sa mga imbentong tao na may imbentong pangalan sa mga imbentong project [It is not a reward given to fabricated people with fabricated names under fabricated projects]. It is a trust, and until the vice president learns respect, this House must act as the parent that disciplines a brat,” she said.
House appropriations committee chairperson Mikaela Suansing accepted the amendment, noting that OVP personnel and services will not be affected.
“The current proposal of the Office of the Vice President reflects the salary increases of the said personnel in compliance with the Salary Standardization Law,” Suansing said. “Second, we will also ensure that the final budget of the Office of the Vice President for the office to be able to perform its mandate.”
The amendment passed the plenary.
Duterte ally and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab appealed the cut, but this was lost in the vote.
“The budget of the OVP has been deducted two times already in 2024 and 2025 and another reduction in 2026 would really, I would say, cripple the office,” he said.
House Bill 4058 was approved on second reading after the period of amendments.
