The Senate Finance Committee, led by Chairman JV Ejercito, is set to review the proposed P785.2 million budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Tuesday, October 20. This budget proposal is 11.7 percent less than the previous year's allocation of P889.236 million.
OVP Budget Proposal Details
What is important to me is that we properly hear the OVP’s budget and its programs. If the programs are good, we can fund them.
Sen. JV Ejercito, Senate Finance Committee Chairman
- OVP seeks P785.204 million for 2027.
- Funding aims to support nationwide assistance and services.
Ejercito emphasized that the evaluation will proceed whether or not Vice President Duterte attends the hearing. He expressed confidence in the committee's ability to assess the proposed programs adequately, stating, 'If we can provide the funding, then we should.'
The OVP's budget was passed by the House of Representatives without debate, with a representative present during the discussions. Ejercito believes the OVP deserves the same consideration as the Office of the President, despite the current political climate.
He also dismissed suggestions to admonish the vice president, arguing that it would only exacerbate existing political divisions. Ejercito stated, 'Why should we admonish her when the situation is already tense? Why add fuel to the fire?'