The Senate of the Philippines has given its swift approval to the proposed 2026 budget for the Office of the Vice President, endorsing a significant increase in funding during Thursday's session on November 27, 2025.
Budget Details and Increase
From the originally proposed amount of P733.198 million, the Senate Committee on Finance, under the leadership of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, sponsored an increased appropriation for the OVP totaling P889.236 million. This represents a substantial boost from the initial proposal and reflects the Senate's support for the vice president's office.
Vice President Sara Duterte was personally present during the budget deliberations, demonstrating the importance her office places on the funding process. The approved budget marks an increase of over 20 percent compared to the OVP's 2025 allocation, though it remains significantly lower than the nearly P1.9 billion the office received in 2024.
Swift Approval Process
The budget approval process moved rapidly through the Senate chambers. Following a brief manifestation of support for the OVP by Senator Robin Padilla, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito immediately moved to terminate deliberations on the proposed budget.
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III approved the motion after confirming that none of the senators present expressed any objections or raised further questions about the budget allocation.
Notable Absence of Confidential Funds
A significant aspect of the approved budget is the complete absence of allocation for confidential funds in the agency's 2026 proposed budget. This decision marks a departure from previous budget patterns and reflects current legislative priorities regarding government spending transparency.
The streamlined approval process and the absence of controversy surrounding the OVP budget suggest broad legislative support for the vice president's office and its planned programs for the coming fiscal year.
