OVP: Sara paid for own trips abroad, but P7.5M spent on security
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President said that Vice President Sara Duterte has been paying for her foreign trips using personal funds, but confirmed that her office has so far disbursed P7.47 million this year for the travel of her security and staff.
Kelvin Gerome Tenido, OVP budget division chief, told reporters on Thursday, September 11, that while Duterte shoulders her own and her family’s expenses abroad, public funds cover the costs of the security personnel assigned to her.
“All the travel overseas of the Vice President is covered by a travel authority and did not include any public funds," Tenido said at a press conference a day before the OVP is set to defend its budget at the House of Representatives.
"The P7.47 million was utilized for the security personnel of the OVP, and including the close-in or the civilian personnel," he added.
Breakdown of expenses
Breaking down the figures, Tenido said OVP had obligated a total of P20.68 million in travel expenses as of July 31.
Of this, P13.21 million went to local trips and P7.47 million to foreign travel.
Under domestic travel, the OVP has spent P10.05 million for the travel of OVP personnel. Meanwhile, P3.16 million has been spent for Duterte's security personnel.
Reporters pressed Tenido on whether taxpayers were still covering parts of Duterte’s overseas trips. He confirmed that while the Vice President and her family shouldered their personal costs, the cost of paying for security is "under the OVP fund."
In total, for 2025, Duterte's office was allocated P31.5 million for international travel and P31 million for domestic trips, according to data shared by the OVP.
2026 budget
For 2026, the OVP is proposing P20 million for travel expenses, under its total proposed P902.9 million budget in the National Expenditure Program.
The OVP budget chief noted that the amount is the lowest since 2023, when the allocation reached its peak at P31.5 million.
Asked why the figure was reduced, he explained that the Department of Budget and Management sets allocations based on an agency’s absorptive capacity, a rule applied across all agencies.
Tenido said the OVP “submits to the wisdom of Congress” on whether to maintain or reduce the allocation during deliberations.
The OVP budget chief did not detail the countries Duterte has visited so far this year. He also avoided confirming destinations or future trips, saying they could not provide information on the vice president's schedule.
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