Senate Committee on Finance holds hearing on 2027 proposed budget of the OVP

[13:43] I attended today's briefing, the briefing of the fiscal year 2027 proposed expenditure program of the Office of the Vice President is now on the order. [13:52] The Chair would like to acknowledge the presence of our Senate President, Wingo Chelyan, and likewise, Senator Aimee Marcos, thank you for attending today's hearing. [14:03] I would like to ask the Committee Secretary to acknowledge the resource persons present for today. [14:09] Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good morning. [14:10] Good morning also to our Senate President and Senator Marcos for the briefing on the proposed FY 2027 budget of the Office of the Vice President. [14:18] I would like to acknowledge our resource persons. [14:20] From the OVP, we have Attorney Zuleika Lopez, Assistant Secretary Lamuel Ortonio, Attorney Rosaline Sanchez, [14:27] Attorney Sunshine Charif Harda, Director Norman Baloro, Attorney Emily Rose Torrentira, [14:33] Attorney Kelvin Jerome Tenido, Ms. Julieta Villadal-Rey, Mr. Amard Ehe, and Mr. Simon Jezer Lau. [14:40] We have also invited representatives from the BBM and COA. [14:45] From BBM, we have Assistant Director Lulo Vizpo, Ms. Lorian Javier, Mr. George Catalan, Mr. Edward J. Perales, and Ms. Queen Valerie Makaspak. [14:54] For COA, we have Mr. Fahad Bin Abdul Malik Tomawis, and Ms. Zara Jane Tegalan. [14:59] Thank you, Mr. Chair. [15:00] Thank you, our Committee Secretary, ladies and gentlemen, honorable colleagues in the Senate, guests, and resource persons. [15:07] To the Office of the Vice President, a pleasant morning to everyone. [15:10] As we open today's budget hearing of the proposed 2027 budget of the OVP, [15:15] we recognize the vital role of the Office of the Vice President as a platform for public service through socioeconomic and support programs. [15:23] Being the second-highest executive office of the Philippine government, it shall maintain outstanding delivery of its local programs, [15:31] dignified international networks, and resilient, sustainable solutions to the countrywide challenges. [15:37] For this budget deliberation, we endeavor to efficiently utilize the allotted fiscal resources to meet short- and long-term projections, [15:46] strengthen national readiness, and enhance responsiveness to the needs of the Filipino people. [15:51] Moving forward, this representation acknowledges the tradition of inter-parliamentary courtesy in respect to the Office of the Vice President, [16:03] while also assuring the public that the fiscal year 2027 proposed expenditure program is taken up with due diligence. [16:10] Thank you very much. [16:11] So I'd like, before we proceed, I would like to ask our Senate President if he has any remarks. [16:20] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [16:21] Mr. Chairman, binabasa ko itong budget ng OVP, and nakita ko na compared to last year, it went down by 11%. [16:33] It went down by approximately from $889 million to $785 million. [16:42] And nakita ko rin na ang kanilang main program ay yung socio-economic program na tumutulong sa ating mga constituents. [16:59] And I saw various components of that program. [17:04] So with that, nakita ko na the Office of the Vice President is spending their budget as efficiently, as wisely as possible. [17:16] Of course, bilang Vice President, meron rin silang mga kailangan tulungan. [17:23] Bilang kayo, mga politicians, marami talagang lumalapit sa amin. [17:27] At itong socio-economic program will be a tool for her to help her constituents, or our constituents for that matter, para mabigyan naman ng relief yung ating mga constituents. [17:47] So I only have one question, Attorney Zulaika, may I know where is the Vice President? [17:56] Traditionally, kasi pag anitong mga budget deliberation, the head of office comes here to defend their budget. [18:07] Alam mo naman yan, you've been here for the last four years. [18:11] And traditionally, even last year, when I was the Chairman of the Finance Committee, [18:19] si Vice President took time to come here to defend her budget. [18:23] So may I know for the record kung nasaan ang ating buting Vice President. [18:28] Yes. Thank you, Your Honor. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. [18:31] The Vice President is actually representing former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the enrollment of our long-serving city planner in Davao City. [18:47] So the schedule for the enrollment is today, October 20. [18:50] So she's the representative of the former President. [18:55] Is that in the country or outside of the country? [18:58] Just in the country. [18:59] Just in the country. [19:00] Well, we hope that in Plenary, we would welcome her presence to further defend her budget. [19:12] This is the first step. [19:13] Alam mo naman yan, my second step pa tayo, which is Plenary. [19:16] And we would hope that she can give time to represent her office and defend her budget in Plenary. [19:24] Yes, Your Honor. [19:24] But at this time, during the committee level, I'll leave it to our chairman, who is the one spearheading the budget of the entire bureaucracy. [19:34] So I'll leave the shepherding to him on the budget of the OVP. [19:44] So with that, Mr. Chairman, maraming salamat. [19:48] Thank you, our Senate President. [19:49] Likewise, the Chair would like to acknowledge the presence of Senator Bongo. [19:52] At this point, I'd like to open the floor to our colleagues if there are any questions for the OVP. [19:59] Yes, Senator Marcos. [20:00] Yes, Chairman. [20:01] Thank you very much and welcome to the Office of Vice President to the House of the Senate. [20:07] At gusto ko lang sumali dun sa sinabi ng ating mahal na chairman, si JV, na i-extend na lang yung traditional courtesy natin sa ating mga executive offices as we do to the other house, the House of Representatives. [20:27] At kahit wala rito ang Pangulo, kahit wala yung pangalawang Pangulo, eh talaga namang hinahayaan. [20:35] Higit sa lahat, nabawasan pa yung budget ninyo ng higit sa 11%. [20:40] Kaya't ang tanging tanong ko na lamang is maliban dun sa sinasabing mga socioeconomic programs, ano ba talaga ang mababawasan? [20:54] Kasi alam ko, maraming tulong. Ako'y nakasama sa magnegosyo taday na iba't ibang mga opening ninyo. [21:01] Ano ang matatamaan at mapeperwisyo ba yung mga beneficiaries natin? [21:05] At the outset, Your Honor, much of the budget is really because there is a reprogramming or recalibration of our programs. [21:16] One good example could be, as you mentioned, the magnegosyo taday. [21:20] This year, we're concentrating on monitoring and evaluation and checking if it actually has made impact, this particular program. [21:30] Therefore, do we have identified a reduced number of beneficiaries and target beneficiaries for the year? [21:37] Another example could be, maybe we can have our Director for Operations, Pagbabago. [21:43] Thank you, Yusek. [21:44] Madam Chair, this is with regard to our Pagbabago a Million Learners campaign. [21:48] We are about to reach already our target, which is 1 million learners to be given with the Pagbabago bags, with raincoats and dental kits as well. [21:57] So, parang yun na rin po, parang napakasaya na rin po namin dahil hindi naaabot ng 2028. [22:04] May re-reach na rin po namin yung goal namin for the 1 million learners. [22:08] Thank you and congratulations on the early attainment of the goals stated, your targets. [22:13] At syempre, gusto rin namin mahalaman dun sa magnegosyo taday, kung ilan dun talaga tuloy-tuloy na nagnegosyo. [22:22] Kasi maganda yung sinasabi nyo, kulang na kulang ang monitoring at evaluation sa buong pamahalaan. [22:28] At mahusay naman that we take a step back and assess the success and the accomplishment in our actual projects. [22:35] With that, I move that we endorse the budget of the Vice President to the plenary. [22:43] Thank you, Senator Marcos. [22:44] But before that, I would like to ask Senator Bongo. [22:48] Mr. Chair, good morning po sa lahat ng officials ng OVP. [22:52] Maraming salamat po sa inyong servisyo, patuloy na servisyo sa ating mga kababayan. [22:57] I just want to express my strong support for the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President. [23:03] Napansin ko po, from 2026, na bawasan pa kayo from 800 million to naging 700 plus na lang million. [23:14] Ngunit, this year po, napansin ko rin po, despite the office limited budget, [23:21] nagkaroon po ang OVP ng mga programang nagbibigay ng tunay na beneficyo sa ating mamamayan. [23:27] From disaster operations, patuloy po ang inyong tulong, pangkabuhayan programs at libring sakay, among others. [23:34] Patuloy po ito. [23:36] At napagkasya niyo po ang inyong pondo. [23:39] Salamat po sa inyong lahat. [23:42] These are just some of the programs of the Office of the Vice President that provide meaningful assistance to our fellow Filipinos. [23:49] Despite its annual limited budget, [23:52] the OVP continues to carry out its mandate and deliver services to those who need them most. [23:59] Kumusta po yun yung libring sakay? [24:02] Sakay, tuloy-tuloy po ba? [24:03] Yes, sir. [24:08] Very operational po yung ating libring sakay. [24:12] We have nine buses already, sir. [24:14] It is deployed in, particularly, we have in Edsa Carousel Monumento P-TEX. [24:19] We have two buses. [24:20] We have also two buses operating in the Commonwealth and Quiapo. [24:24] It's vice versa. [24:25] We have also P-TEX to Naik, Cavite, [24:28] and we have one in Bacolod, [24:30] one in Cebu City, [24:31] one in Davao, [24:32] and one in Tacloban City, Your Honor. [24:37] Salamat po. [24:38] At nakikita ko maraming natutulungan po ito. [24:41] At ako mismo, [24:43] nung mga nakaraang taon, [24:44] tayo rin po sumuporta sa programang ito. [24:48] Sana po iba ipagpatuloy niyo ito. [24:49] Nakakatulong talaga sa ating mga kababayan. [24:52] Sa totoo lamang po, [24:53] inihalal ang Vice President na hindi lamang para umupo sa pwesto at maging spare tire. [24:58] Inihalal po siya para maging working Vice President [25:01] para magdingkod at tumugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan. [25:05] Lahat po tayo ay public servants. [25:08] We are meant to serve the Filipino people. [25:10] Basic mandate po ang tumulong, [25:13] lalo na sa nangangailangan ng social services. [25:16] Salamat po sa inyong lahat. [25:18] Despite your limited budget, [25:20] patuloy kayong nagsiservisyo. [25:22] Nandito lamang po kami, [25:23] kahit isang boto lamang po ako, [25:25] para sumuporta po sa inyong opisina. [25:27] Basta makakatulong po ng mga programa sa ating mga kababayang Pilipino. [25:32] Lalong-lalo na po yung mga mahirap. [25:33] Salamat po sa inyo. [25:35] With that, Mr. Chair, [25:36] I second the motion to submit and recommend to the plenary [25:39] the proposed budget of the OVP for 2027. [25:44] Yes, we take note of the two motions [25:47] by Senator Marcos and Senator Bongo. [25:50] However, it is worth noting [25:54] that among the agencies and departments, [25:56] being the Chairman of Committee on Finance this year, [25:59] lahat po talaga natural na humihingi ng taas, [26:02] ng raise, ng increase. [26:05] And most, if not majority of the departments [26:10] are appealing to increase their budgets. [26:14] And OVP is just one of the departments of the very few, [26:18] just like the Senate. [26:19] Ang Senate po, nagbabaho kami under the leadership [26:23] of our Senate President. [26:26] The Senate has a lower budget this year by 1 billion. [26:31] And I noticed that the OVP is less, [26:35] almost 86 million po ang inyong naibawas [26:39] compared to the now 2027 GAA. [26:44] May correct? Tama po. [26:45] So, ang tanong ko lang po, [26:48] do you still intend to continue with that? [26:51] I think that that's a good program, [26:52] yung inyong negosyo, [26:54] mag-negosyo kaday, [26:55] and yung libre sakay, [26:57] any updates lang, sayang dun. [26:59] Because now that we have a crisis, [27:01] malaking tulong po sana yan, [27:03] kung itutuloy, [27:04] and we will support that, [27:05] dahil it will at least fill in the gaps, [27:09] because of the means, [27:12] yung iba ayaw ng bumiyahe, [27:13] dahil sa taas ng presyo ng krudo, [27:17] na nalulugi sila. [27:18] So, sige po, [27:19] Attorney Zuleka, [27:21] can you bring me with the two programs? [27:24] Yes, Your Honor. [27:26] Dalibring Sakay continues to flourish. [27:28] As a matter of fact, [27:29] Your Honor, [27:29] we are expecting our 4 millionth passenger [27:32] anytime, [27:33] within two weeks' time, [27:34] I understand, no? [27:35] So, we already have nine buses, [27:37] as mentioned by our Director for Operations. [27:39] And then, [27:40] it is our own way to provide free transport [27:42] to our fellow Filipinos, no? [27:45] Daily. [27:46] Daily ang services nito. [27:47] For the mag-negosyo today, [27:49] as mentioned earlier, [27:50] we are concentrating on monitor [27:51] and checking and evaluating [27:53] if our beneficiaries have actually [27:56] made an impact [27:58] or made successes of the businesses [27:59] or livelihood that was provided them. [28:03] Yes, Your Honor. [28:04] So, are you sure you want to recalibrate [28:08] and if it's successful, [28:10] sayang naman kung ito'y makatulong [28:11] sa mga negosyo? [28:14] Yes, Your Honor. [28:15] Recalibration is a program [28:17] and a program mix. [28:20] So, with that, [28:21] actually, [28:22] we will support [28:23] the social programs [28:25] of the office [28:25] of the Vice President. [28:27] And, you know, [28:28] in spite of all of [28:29] the political noise, [28:30] we are still hoping [28:31] that one day [28:32] that we will have [28:33] unity [28:35] in this country. [28:37] And we are looking [28:39] and praying for that [28:40] in the future. [28:42] And I'll send our regards [28:43] to our Vice President. [28:45] We're hoping to see her [28:46] during plenary. [28:48] And the committee chair [28:49] would like to thank everyone, [28:50] especially our esteemed [28:52] resource persons [28:53] led by the Chief of Staff [28:55] of the OVP Attorney, [28:56] Zolae Cala Lopez, [28:58] and the rest [28:59] of the OVP family. [29:01] Thank you for joining [29:02] this morning's [29:03] budget hearing. [29:07] There being no further [29:08] questions, [29:08] the budget of the [29:09] Office of the Vice President [29:10] is deemed submitted [29:11] for the plenist consideration [29:12] subject to the discussion [29:14] and submission of documents [29:16] requested. [29:17] Sana po, [29:17] gusto ko sana 15 minutes [29:19] and send our regards [29:22] to our Vice President. [29:25] Magandang umaga po. [29:26] This briefing [29:27] is here by suspended. [29:28] Thank you. [29:29] Thank you, [29:29] Your Honors. [29:30] Thank you. [29:30] Thank you, [29:31] Your Honors.