OVP ok to answer budget questions amid parliamentary courtesy offer

[Updated Sept. 2, 2026, 4:45 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Wednesday agreed to answer questions regarding its proposed budget for 2027 despite a motion made by a lawmaker to extend the tradition of parliamentary courtesy to the agency. 

During the House committee on appropriations’ briefing for the proposed budget of the OVP, the office presented its proposed budget worth P785.2 million,.

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A huge chunk of the budget will be allocated for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses worth P561.6 million, followed by Personnel Services (P235.7 million); and Capital Outlay (P3.3 million). 

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READ: House panel ends OP budget briefing in less than an hour

After the OVP’s presentation, Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Robert Nazal made a motion to extend parliamentary courtesy to the OVP by waiving questions on its proposed budget.

Nazal explained that the motion was not intended as a form of special treatment but for “consistency” as the House panel also extended the same courtesy to the Office of the President on Tuesday. 

“This is not a request for special treatment. This is simply a request for consistency that this committee treat every co-equal branch of government to the same measure of respect and fairness regardless of the circumstances surrounding them,” Nazal said. 

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Nazal also pointed out that Vice President Sara Duterte is already facing an impeachment trial, which he described as a “burden already heavy enough on its own.”

However, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio objected to the motion, saying that the same courtesy must be abolished to uphold transparency and accountability in budget briefings. He also objected to the motion to grant a parliamentary courtesy to the OP. 

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“Nilinaw natin kahapon sa ating paliwanag na dapat ibasura na itong inter-parliamentary courtesy lalo na pag usapin ng budget dahil ang tungkulin natin ng lahat ng nasa gobyerno ay maging transparent sa kung paano ginagamit ang pondo ng taumbayan,” Tinio expressed.

(We explained yesterday that this inter-parliamentary courtesy must be rejected, especially if we are talking about budget because our responsibility is to be transparent on how we use the public funds.)

House panel’s vice chairperson Rep. Jose Alvarez acknowledged the motion and objection made as he asked the resource persons if they are willing to answer questions instead of proceeding to divide the body. 

OVP Chief of Staff and Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez then agreed to answer questions from the panel, saying that they are ready to do so. 

Afterwards, Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay said that he will not insist on dividing the house if Tinio would only ask questions regarding the OVP’s proposed budget. 

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Nazal then withdrew his motion to extend the parliamentary courtesy to the OVP “in consideration that the questions will be very limited to the budget.” /apl /mr