Extending traditional inter-parliamentary courtesy, Senate Finance Sub-Committee A on Tuesday swiftly endorsed the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed P785-million budget for fiscal year 2027 to the Senate plenary after a hearing that lasted just 15 minutes.
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, chairman of the finance sub-committee, terminated the hearing without further questioning from senators present, deeming the proposed budget submitted for plenary consideration.
“Actually we will support the social programs of the Office of the Vice President… And send our regards to our Vice President. We’re hoping to see her during plenary,” Ejercito said, thanking OVP Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez and her delegation.
Vice President Sara Duterte was absent from the hearing. Lopez explained that Duterte was in Davao City representing her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, at the inurnment of the city’s longtime urban planner.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian observed that the OVP’s 2027 proposed allocation reflects an 11 percent decrease from its 2026 budget of P889 million. He noted that the bulk of the funding remains dedicated to socio-economic assistance programs serving needy citizens nationwide.
“I’m sure kay Vice President marami rin lumalapit ang humihingi ng tulong. At itong socio-economic program will be a tool for her to help our constituents,” Gatchalian remarked, expressing hope that the Vice President will personally attend the upcoming plenary deliberations to defend the budget. (I’m sure there are lots of people who ask for help from the Vice President. This socio-economic program will be a tool for her to help our constituents.)
Responding to queries from Senator Imee Marcos on how the lower funding would impact operations, Lopez said that the OVP is recalibrating its major initiatives. Specifically, for the “Mag-negosyo Ta ‘Day” livelihood program, the office is focusing on monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment, leading to a reduced target list of beneficiaries for the upcoming fiscal year.
OVP Director for Operations Norman Baloro added that the office will maintain core socio-economic campaigns, including the “Pagbabago: A Million Learners Campaign,” which distributes school supplies, dental kits, and raincoats to elementary and indigenous students, paired with a nationwide tree-planting initiative in partnership with the DENR and DepEd.
In response to questions from Senator Bong Go, Baloro confirmed that the OVP’s free public bus transport program remains operational to cushion commuters against rising fuel prices driven by geopolitical tensions.
The OVP currently operates nine buses along the EDSA Carousel route (Monumento to PITX), two buses servicing the Commonwealth Avenue–Quiapo route, and additional units covering PITX to Naic, Cavite, alongside regional operations in Bacolod City, Cebu City, Davao City and Tacloban City.
With no additional questions raised by the four attending senators, Ejercito approved motions from Marcos and Go to formally endorse the OVP budget to the plenary floor.