The House of Representatives swiftly concluded its deliberations on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed P785.2-million budget for 2027 on Tuesday, Sept. 22, with no lawmaker raising any questions.
The proposed OVP budget is 11.7% lower than the P889.236 million appropriated for the office in 2026.
Vice President Sara Duterte was absent from the House plenary as lawmakers took up her office’s proposed spending plan.
OVP Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio represented the office during the deliberations after OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez was unable to attend due to illness, Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez, the budget sponsor, said.
The deliberations opened shortly after 9 a.m., but no lawmaker sought to interpellate or raise questions regarding the OVP’s proposed allocation.
ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio then moved to terminate further discussion of the OVP budget after noting that no member of the House minority bloc had questions for the agency.
The motion was supported by the majority bloc, allowing the deliberations to conclude in less than two minutes.
The OVP had earlier presented its proposed P785.204-million budget for 2027 during the House Committee on Appropriations’ review on Sept. 2.
