PASAY CITY—The Senate Finance Subcommittee A on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, endorsed the proposed ₱785-million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for Fiscal Year 2027 for plenary consideration.

The proposed allocation represents an 11 percent decrease from the agency's previous year’s funding, reflecting an intentional recalibration of its national programs and operations rather than a curtailment of essential public services.

During the budget briefing, OVP Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez explained to lawmakers that the reduction in funding stems from strategic operational shifts within major initiatives. Specifically, the OVP is scaling down the onboarding of new beneficiaries under its Magnegosyo Ta 'Day livelihood program to focus on evaluating the long-term impact on previous recipients, while its Pagbabago learner assistance campaign has nearly reached its target capacity ahead of schedule.Despite the scaled-back funding proposal, lawmakers highlighted that the OVP continues to sustain key nationwide public service projects.

Core initiatives including the Libreng Sakay free transport program, disaster response efforts, and ongoing socioeconomic support for constituents seeking government assistance remain operational under the proposed budget framework.

Senator Imee Marcos commended the OVP for proactively monitoring its livelihood programs and successfully meeting its learner assistance targets early. Expressing satisfaction with the agency's performance and accountability measures, Marcos moved to officially endorse the ₱785-million allocation to the full Senate plenary for further debate and approval.

Echoing support for the budget, Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go praised the agency’s sustained outreach programs despite the reduced resource allocation. Go emphasized that Vice President Sara Duterte was elected to act as a active, working vice president rather than serving as a passive spare tire in government leadership.

Senate President Win Gatchalian also backed the proposed funding, noting that the OVP appears to be utilizing its budget efficiently to address public needs.

Moving forward to the next legislative stage, Gatchalian expressed hope that Vice President Duterte will personally attend the upcoming plenary deliberations to defend the agency's financial blueprint.