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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider OVP may revive past programs with possible excess from 2026 budget—spox

OVP may revive past programs with possible excess from 2026 budget—spox

Published Jul 21, 2025 04:25 pm
Despite having limited budget, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) plans to revive past programs and projects from any excess funds on its yet-to-be-approved 2026 budget.

OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo (Santi San Juan/MANILA BULLETIN)
OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo (Santi San Juan/MANILA BULLETIN)
Lawyer Ruth Castelo, the OVP’s spokesman, said in an interview on SMNI that their office put in plans to still be able to reach as many Filipinos as possible even with their meager budget.

“Dadamihan lang ng beneficiaries at saka yung mga tinanggal na programa baka sakaling maibalik natin next year kung meron tayong sobrang pera or kung meron pong may ibigay sa atin na karagdagan (There will be more beneficiaries and we might be able to revive the old programs if there is an excess fund or if we’re given more),” she explained.

The OVP has proposed for a P733-million budget for 2026, similar to its approved 2025 budget. But the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) raised this to P903 million.

This, however, is still subject to congressional approval.

Referring to Congress, Castelo said “it’s up to them” if they would approve the OVP’s proposal.

“But as far as we're concerned, the Office of the --- the Department of Budget and Management has already seen the wisdom dito sa mga programa na nilahad ng (in the projects proposed by the) Office of the Vice President,” she noted.

“Nakita na nila yung pangangailangan ng opisina para dagdagan ng budget (They saw the needs of the office for additional budget). And the recommendation from them, increasing the budget to P903 million, tingin ko kailangan ng makita rin ng mga miyembro ng mababang kapulungan (I think the House of Representatives needs to see it, too).”

The OVP has stopped a number of its programs after Congress brings down its 2025 budget to P733 million.

These are the Medical and Burial Assistance, the PanSarap program, and the Wheelchair Program.

Castelo, however, assured that the OVP’s Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day and the operations of its satellite offices will remain.

Related Tags

Ruth Castelo Burial assistance medical aid DBM OVP budget
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