At A Glance
- In less than five minutes, the Senate plenary approved on Thursday, Nov. 27, the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) proposed P889-million budget for 2026.
In less than five minutes, the Senate plenary approved on Thursday, Nov. 27, the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed P889-million budget for 2026.
Vice President Sara Duterte personally attends Thursday’s, Nov. 27, 2025, Senate session in Pasay as lawmakers examined the Office of the Vice President’s proposed ₱889-million budget for 2026. (Contributed Photo)
Vice President Sara Duterte personally went to the Senate plenary and faced the chamber.
The Senate granted the OVP a budget that is P156 million higher than the House version, which was P733 million.
Before the OVP budget was approved, Senator Robin Padilla manifested his gratitude to the Senate and to his fellow lawmakers for not reducing the vice president’s budget for next year and instead increasing it.
Padilla also expressed thanks that the pressure against VP Sara did not come from the upper chamber.
"Ako po ay natutuwa sapagkat dito po sa atubg bulwagan ay atin pong hindi binawasan ang budget ng ating pangalawang pangulo, bagkus ay dinagdagan (I am pleased because here in this chamber, we did not reduce the budget of our Vice President; instead, we increased it)," Padilla said.
Meanwhile, in Duterte's less-than-a-minute press conference, she thanked the Senate for the swift approval of the OVP’s 2026 budget.
She also greeted the Senate media with a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and wished “good health” for everyone in 2026.
VP Duterte declined to react to or answer issues such as the videos released by resigned Rep. Zaldy Co and his statement that she is ready to become the next President.