Senator Pimentel Urges VP Sara to Prioritize Her Mandate Over Extraneous Programs

Vice President Sara Duterte is advised by Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III to concentrate on her duties as the nation's second-highest official rather than enacting pointless initiatives. Pimentel also wants Congress to reconcile the budget of the Office of the Vice President with the mandate set forth in the Constitution.

“Congress shouldn’t just act tough during hearings and then approve the budget as is anyway. If you’re going to show strength, follow through by making sure the budget aligns with the Vice President’s constitutional role,” Pimentel said in a radio interview on Sunday.

For her office's 2025 budget, Duterte is asking P2.037 billion.

According to Pimentel, Duterte has stated time and time again that she is willing to give Congress control over the budget for her office.

“She said, ‘I will leave it to Congress to decide what to do with my budget.’ And she’s repeated that several times, which means she’s serious about it. She also said the same thing in the Senate. She didn’t just say it in this Congress; she said it last year as well, in a more respectful way. So, Congress should show off. Not pretending to be tough but still keeping the budget as is,” he pointed out.

The head of the Philippine Senate, Pimentel, has pleaded with Congress to recognize the vice president's responsibilities and appropriate funding. He underlined that, in accordance with the Constitution, the Vice President must always be prepared to take the oath of office. Pimentel recommended allocating the Vice President's budget to critical planning, such going to briefings to make sure the country is ready in the event that the President is assassinated. In addition, he recommended eliminating the funding allotted for initiatives outside the Vice President's purview. Additionally, Pimentel recommended that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), an established organization, be the primary source of social aid for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Citing the irregular use of her office's confidential funds in 2022, House Minority Leader France Castro has promised to oppose the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) social service budget request for the upcoming year. Castro suggested that the Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) get the social assistance funds requested by the OVP in the national budget for 2025 in order to guarantee their proper utilization and benefit to Filipinos. The OVP's projected P2.037 billion budget is primarily allocated to social assistance programs, which the DSWD could administer more effectively and efficiently. Castro added that during last week's budget briefing, Duterte did not provide a sufficient justification for how her agency used public funds.

Another congressman stated that Duterte attempted, but was unable, to prevent the Commission on Audit (COA) from reporting to Congress on the P73.28 million that her office had spent.