Go: OVP deserves increased support

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Thursday expressed full support for the proposed 2026 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) as the Senate restored its P889-million allocation that had earlier been reduced in the House of Representatives.

During the plenary deliberations, Go emphasized that the funding is crucial for the OVP to carry out its functions — duties he said are backed by a direct mandate from the Filipino electorate to Vice President Sara Duterte.

As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go said the Senate acted favorably on proposals, including his own, to reinstate the budget intended to sustain ongoing programs that provide direct aid to Filipinos.

“As manifested during the hearing, nakapagsagawa ng mga mahahalagang programa ang OVP na may direktang benepisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” Go said. “It is for this reason that we wrote to the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and proposed to restore the budget of the OVP amounting to P889 million, which was reduced by the House of Representatives. We are glad that the Committee adopted our proposal and restored the budget of the OVP.”

He argued that the OVP has already proven its capacity to implement meaningful and effective initiatives for ordinary Filipinos and that the budget restoration simply ensures the continuity of such interventions in line with the National Expenditure Program.

Go also stressed that the OVP “carries and embodies an elected mandate from the Filipino electorate,” noting the need “to support the essential nature of the functions of the OVP in fulfilling its mission of delivering direct public service.”

Apart from the restored budget, Go said he has made a separate written appeal for an increase in the OVP’s allocation specifically for social services. He said strengthening the office’s social intervention programs would complement efforts of national government agencies and expand the reach of public assistance, particularly to vulnerable communities.

“It is for this reason that we also wrote the Committee to increase the budget of the OVP for social services,” he said. “The allocation of additional budget will enable the OVP to implement various initiatives that supplement and reinforce the efforts of national agencies in delivering direct assistance to vulnerable sectors.”

Go added that enhancing the OVP’s ability to provide social support would mean more Filipinos benefiting from programs intended to aid those most in need.

“Wala naman sigurong masama kung dagdagan ang budget ng OVP para sa social services para mas marami pa ang makapag-bigay ng tulong at mas marami rin ang ating matulungan,” he said.

“We leave it to the wisdom and discretion of the body if my proposal could be accommodated at the proper time,” he added.