The Senate Committee on Finance on Monday, September 29, approved the proposed ₱902.895 million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2026, endorsing it for plenary deliberations under the tradition of parliamentary courtesy.

Vice President Sara Duterte personally appeared before the panel to defend her office’s spending plan. The discussion lasted less than an hour before senators moved to grant approval.

Senate Minority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri made the motion to approve the budget, emphasizing the practice of extending courtesy to the OVP.

Meanwhile, Sen. Erwin Tulfo called on the committee to reconsider the ₱39-million reduction made by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) from the original OVP proposal.

In her remarks, Duterte underscored the OVP’s role in serving the public, saying the office “stands resolutely as a people’s institution.”

She highlighted the establishment of 10 OVP satellite offices and an extension office in Tondo, Manila, which she said have been “pivotal in bringing the national government closer to underserved communities” by providing timely and meaningful interventions.

According to her, these offices strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the OVP’s services, ensuring that assistance reaches Filipinos who need it most.

The approved budget will now move to the Senate plenary, where it is expected to gain swift passage before being consolidated into the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).