House OKs P785.2 million OVP budget for 2027

MANILA, Philippines — The proposed P785.2-million 2027 budget of the Office of Vice President – which is 11.7 percent lower than this year’s P889.2 million allotment – breezed through House plenary deliberations without any interpellations yesterday.

OVP assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio represented the agency before lawmakers, after his boss, chief of staff Zuleika Lopez submitted a medical certificate asking to be excused from the deliberations.

“We don’t want anything unwelcome to crop up... They were already asking questions during the briefing. It’s just the same. There’s nothing to worry about,” House appropriations committee vice chair and Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez said during yesterday’s budget hearing.

Alvarez expressed belief that the matter has nothing to do with the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“We will not look into whether or not she is impeached. The budget is the budget,” he noted. — Evelyn Macairan