Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday expressed hope that Vice President Sara Duterte would personally defend her office’s proposed PHP785 million budget for 2027 during plenary deliberations after missing the Senate committee hearing.
Gatchalian raised the matter before Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez, noting that heads of government offices traditionally appear before Congress to explain their budgetary requirements.
“May I know where is the Vice President?” Gatchalian asked.
He recalled that Duterte personally attended the Senate budget hearing last year when he was still chairperson of the Committee on Finance.
Lopez explained that Duterte was representing former president Rodrigo Duterte at an event scheduled for Tuesday in Davao City, confirming that the Vice President was in the country.
Gatchalian acknowledged the explanation but expressed hope that Duterte would make time for the next stage of the budget process.
“We would welcome her presence,” he said, referring to the upcoming plenary deliberations, where he hoped Duterte would personally defend her office’s proposed expenditure program.
Despite her absence, Gatchalian recognized the OVP’s efforts to maintain its socioeconomic assistance programs under a reduced budget.
He noted that the proposed allocation declined by approximately 11 percent, from PHP889 million to PHP785 million, while the office continued implementing assistance programs for vulnerable sectors.
Gatchalian said the OVP appeared to be utilizing its limited resources efficiently, particularly in extending socioeconomic assistance to Filipinos seeking government support.
Committee on Finance chairperson JV Ejercito likewise expressed hope that Duterte would attend the plenary deliberations, while emphasizing that the Senate would continue extending traditional parliamentary courtesy to the Office of the Vice President.
Senators Imee Marcos and Bong Go supported advancing the proposed allocation to the plenary, citing the OVP’s continuing delivery of social services despite its reduced funding. (PNA)