Statement of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s Office on 2026 Proposed Budget
SARA DUTERTE’S OFFICE – The Office of the Vice President (OVP) spoke on the fate of their proposed budget for 2026 amounting P902.8 million.
Currently, the Senate and the House of Representatives are deliberating the 2026 proposed budget amounting to P6.793 trillion. Amid the issue on the flood control projects in the country as well as the alleged items that seek budget allocations for projects that are supposedly completed, the President made an order over the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos ordered for a sweeping review of the 2026 proposed budget of the DPWH. With regards to the budget sought for the Office of the President, it is at P27.362 billion — far from the P15.9 billion budget approved for Marcos Jr.’s office this year. Amid the issue on flood control now, based on a report on Inquirer, the DPWH is given 7 days to ‘clean’ their proposed budget amounting to P881.3 billion.
As for Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s office, the OVP seeks for a P902.8 million budget for 2026. It is slightly higher compared to Duterte’s previously claim that she will only propose a budget close to the approved budget of her office for this year which is P733 million.
The 2025 budget proposal of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s office suffered a huge cut. From P2 billion, the proposed budget of the OVP was cut to P733 million. Previously, ahead of the budget talks, the Vice President claimed that she already expects budget cuts from the OVP’s P902.8-million proposed budget for next year.
According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, she expects budget cuts from the OVP’s P902.8 million proposed budget for 2026 citing the Marcos Jr. administration. According to her, the President and the House Speaker are still the same people.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s office spoke anew on the proposed budget of the OVP for 2026. According to Atty. Ruth Castelo, they are ready for any eventuality whatever the Congress will decide on with regards to their proposed budget.
“Whether they increase it or decrease it, it’s the same thing for us. We will still do whatever needs to be done,” Castelo, the OVP’s spokesperson, said.
Under the 2025 budget, the medical assistance and burial assistance programs of the OVP were eliminated. The nutrition program was also stopped. According to Castelo, they requested for an additional budget of P150 million but they got only P70 million in additional funding.
The spokesperson of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s office stressed that they would be able to implement more projects with a bigger funding. Meanwhile, they are ready and would accept it if the OVP budget will be returned to P733 million.
“But if they decide to return it to P733 million, what we have for 2025, that’s okay as well. The OVP would not complain,” she said.
Amid the issues, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte did not ask for confidential and intelligence funds for her office for 2026.