A vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations has assured the Office of the Vice President (OVP) of courtesy and respect once it takes up the agency's budget under the P7.2-trillion 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

This, despite the ongoing Senate impeachment trial where 11 House members--acting as prosecutors--are seeking a conviction on the respondent, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, in a DZBB radio interview Sunday, Aug. 16, said the lower chamber has consistently treated Duterte’s office with respect. Despite Duterte’s absence from the plenary budget deliberations last year, the House still allowed the OVP’s budget to be taken up on the floor.

“The mere fact that we allowed her budget to be deliberated on the floor, even without her presence, is a manifestation of that courtesy that we have extended to her office,” Adiong recalled

But while the House would extend courtesy to the Vice President, she and her office should not be exempt from the appropriations panel's scrutiny of the agency’s proposed budget.

“Respect is there, but it does not also mean that she should be immune from questions; that we disallow or we preclude members of the appropriations committee from asking questions about certain matters pertaining to her budget,” said Adiong.

According to Adiong, appearing before the House during budget deliberations is part of an agency’s responsibility when requesting public funds to be allocated to target projects and programs for the given fiscal year.

“‘Pag budget po na yung hinihingi ng ahensya, dapat humarap ka. Kasi ang mga miyembro ng House of Representatives, they represent the people all over the country,” he said.

(When an agency requests a budget, you should appear. Because the members of the House of Representatives represent the people all over the country.)

“Eh di kung wala hong naman magtanong sa amin tungkol sa budget na ‘yan, eh that is also dereliction of our duty kasi we are being paid by taxpayers’ money to precisely ask these agencies where and how they implement these programs and projects that we approved,” Adiong said.

(So if nobody asks us about that budget, that is also dereliction of our duty, since we are being paid by taxpayers’ money precisely to ask these agencies where and how they implement the programs and projects that we approved.)

The ranking solon recalled how he personally reached out to his fellow Mindanaoan Duterte during the previous budget cycle to discuss the OVP’s proposed allocation but received no response.

“I was the first, one of the first sponsors of her budget. At na-ghosting po ako (I was ghosted),” he said.

Despite this, he maintained that the House remains willing to hear from the Vice President and her office during the upcoming budget deliberations.

“What is important is that the House of Representatives expects and hopes that she would attend the coming budget deliberation,” he said.

The appropriations committee will begin deliberations on the 2027 NEP on a per agency basis on Monday, Aug. 17.