By Omar Fernando

DAVAO CITY – Despite budget constraints, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) remains resolute in delivering crucial services and advancing its operations to benefit the nation.

Vice President Sara Duterte assured this at a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 13, following the Senate deliberations on OVP’s budget.

The Senate approved the OVP’s 2025 budget, totaling PHP733 million, per the Finance Committee's proposal.

Vice President Sara participated in the budget deliberations at the Senate on Wednesday.

“Kung ano yong pleasure ng Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate, yon na yongmasusunod. I said that they have the power of the purse, so susunod lang kami kung ano yong ibibigay na budget,” VP Sara said in a press conference following the budget hearing.

She added: “Kung ano man yong maiwan tutuloy pa rinkami kung ano yong ipagkasya namin na pwedengserbisyo doon sa ibibigay na budget (Whatever is left, we will continue with services based on the budget approriation),” VP Sara said.

Satellite offices’ closure

She said the budget cut will, however, affect around 200 OVP personnel, particularly those under contract of service, mainly in the satellite offices in various parts of the country.

“The closure of satellite offices is possible depending on the budget we get,” VP Sara said.

Bong Go’s appeal

During Wednesday's deliberations, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go appealed to his colleagues to restore the OVP budget to sustain the office's vital social services to Filipinos.

“Maraming naghihirap na nangangailangan ng tulong mulasa gobyerno. Huwag natin ipagkait sa opisinang may mandato na tumulong ang kakayahan nitong makatulong. Kung mas maraming tutulong, mas maraming makakabenepisyong Pilipino (There are many poor people who need help from the government. Let's not deny the office with the mandate to help its ability to help. The more people help, the more Filipinos will benefit),” Go said.

He added that reducing the OVP's budget would limit access to critical assistance for Filipinos, especially those affected by natural disasters and economic hardship.

"Ito lang po ang aking pakiusap sana para sa social services, para mas marami pang mabigyan po ng tulongat mas marami pang matutulungan. Huwag po natingipagkait sa sambayanan ang serbisyong kanilanginaasahan, lalo na sa panahong mas kailangan po taumbayan ang pagkalinga ng kanilang pamahalaan (My only request is for social services, so that more people can be given help and more people can be helped. Let's not deny the people the service they expect, especially at a time when they need the care of their government),” Go said.

He reminded his colleagues that the OVP holds the second-highest position in the government, adding that VP Sara is not merely a ceremonial figure but a duly elected representative of the Filipino people.

“Inihahalal po ang Bise Presidente hindi lamang para umupo sa pwesto at maging spare tire. Kung gusto naman po magtrabaho, ay bigyan po natin siya ng pagkakataongmagtrabaho. Inihahalal din siya para maglingkod at tumugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan(The Vice President is elected not to sit in office and be a spare tire. If she wants to work, let's give her the opportunity to work. She was elected to serve and respond to the needs of our countrymen),” Go said.

The OVP's proposed budget under the National Expenditure Program was P2.026 billion, but it was slashed by P1.3 billion.

Most of the cuts were for providing various services and assistance that the OVP extends in different regions of the country.