The Senate on Thursday swiftly approved the proposed ₱889.2-million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for fiscal year 2026, completing the process in less than five minutes with no questions raised.

During the plenary session, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito moved for the approval of the OVP budget.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III immediately granted the motion after no senator registered any objection.

Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla expressed joy after the proposed budget for the OVP was quickly approved in the Senate.

According to Padilla, whenever a calamity occurs anywhere in the country, the Vice President can always be counted on to help and extend sympathy.

"Ako po’y natutuwa sapagkat dito po sa ating bulwagan ay atin pong hindi binawasan ang budget ng ating Pangalawang Pangulo [Sara Duterte], bagkus ay dinagdagan. Sapagkat alam niyo, sa akin pong karanasan, sa tuwing may dadating na kalamidad, kalungkutan, kamatayan, nandyan lagi ang ating Pangalawang Pangulo upang makiramay, tumulong, kahit saan pong lupalop sa Pilipinas," Padilla during the deliberations.

"Makikita po natin ang opisina ng ating Pangalawang Pangulo at siya mismo ay pumupunta sa mga lugar na hindi pa po naabot ng kahit na sinong naging public official," he added.

It can be recalled that Duterte and her staff snubbed the House of Representatives’ budget deliberations on its proposed ₱902 million budget for 2026 amid unmet demand, prompting them to reduce the budget to ₱733.2 million.

Vice President Sara Duterte personally attended the hearing but stayed only briefly, as the budget passed without debate or clarification.

Speaking to Senate media after the session, Duterte extended holiday greetings and expressed gratitude to lawmakers for the approval.

“We [would] like to thank the Senate of the Philippines for approving the OVP year 2026 budget,” she said.

The Vice President refused to answer questions from the press following her statement.