Jamaine Punzalan

Vice President Sara Duterte answers questions. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

PRIDE MONTH EVENT- VP Sara

Pia Gutierrez

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175273418796920250625-kasarilayaan-duterte-MT33.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte answers questions. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Malacanang said Thursday its doors were open for Vice President Sara Duterte, following her office’s remark that keeping her “out of the loop” and failing to fund her projects were a disservice to the country.</p><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that Malacanang welcomes any meaningful suggestion from the Office of the Vice President when it comes to running the government.</p><p>“On the part of the Palace, welcome po kung anuman po ang suhestiyon na makabuluhan, magandang suhestiyon na magmumula sa OVP,” Castro said.</p><p>“Hindi po ito tinatanggihan at hindi po sinasara ng Pangulo ang pintuan sa Bise Presidente. Lahat po ng maaaring suhestiyon na makabuluhan ay tatanggapin po iyan kung ito naman po ay makakatulong sa taumbayan,” she said. </p><p>But Castro noted an instance when the Vice President allegedly chose to withhold giving her suggestion on how to make the cheaper rice program more sustainable, supposedly saying that she did not want to help President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>“Tandaan po natin, mismong si Bise Presidente ang nagsabing siya raw po ay mayroong formula or alam para maipababa ang presyo ng bigas pero ayaw niya pong i-share sa gobyerno at sa administrasyon dahil ayaw niyang tulungan ang Pangulo,” Castro said. </p><p>“So, hindi po nanggagaling sa Pangulo o sa administrasyon na ito ang pagharang sa kaniyang mga gustong gawin para sa taumbayan. Unang-una po ay handa pong makinig ang Pangulo sa anumang kaniyang suhestiyon na may kabuluhan,” she said.</p><p>The Palace official also denied allegations that the Office of the President was not supporting the Vice President’s budget. She pointed out that the Department of Budget and Management<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/9/dbm-hikes-ovp-s-proposed-2026-budget-to-p903m-spox-1332"> increased her proposed budget</a> for 2026 compared to her allocation this year.</p><p>“Hindi naman po humahadlang ang administrasyon na ito kung siya man po ay humihingi ng mas mataas na budget… Sa ngayon po, ang proposed budget ng OVP ay from P733 million ay ginawa pong P903 million,” Castro said.</p><p>“Kung hindi po tayo nagkakamali, medyo malaki po kasi ang hiningi nila, ang proposed budget nila para sa taong 2025, parang P2.03 billion. Nagkataon lamang po na hindi niya po ito naipagtanggol nang maayos sa House of Representatives,” she continued.</p><p>“So, kung anuman po ang naging desisyon ng House of Representatives, ng Congress, ay hindi na po ito saklaw ng Pangulo. Mas mabuti po siguro kung mas nais niya po ng mas malaking budget, katulad ng isang estudyante kung mayroon kayong thesis na gustong idepensa, idepensa ninyo po nang maayos para po kayo ay mapagbigyan.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/27/why-the-senate-decided-against-increasing-the-ovp-s-2025-budget-1753">Why the Senate decided against increasing the OVP&#x27;s 2025 budget</a></div><p>With its slashed 2025 funding, the OVP discontinued its medical and burial assistance programs as well as its distribution of bread to several students. </p><p>The rest of the OVP’s projects — such as its free bus rides, bag distribution and livelihood assistance programs — will continue, Duterte earlier said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/video/news/09/05/23/vp-duterte-we-can-live-without-confidential-funds">VP Duterte: &#x27;We can live without confidential funds&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>LIBRENG SAKAY    </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The OVP said Thursday it planned to expand its free bus rides to further aid commuters, around 3 years since the program was first implemented. </p><p>OVP Spokesperson Ruth Castelo toured the media in one of the 9 buses plying Metro Manila through the PITX-Monumento route.  </p><p>These free bus rides are also available in some areas of Naic-Cavite, Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, and Tacloban.</p><p>The OVP eyed expanding the buses’ operation from the current 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. schedule on Mondays to Saturdays. </p><p>“Kailangan natin aralin kung kailangan ba magdagdag o anong lugar yung kailangan dagdagan…doon sa study, maraming naging pasahero sa program at yung regular passenger na nasa regular bus sa EDSA carousel, punuan,” she added. </p><p>Among those who rode the free bus were Ramina Bugarin and single mother May Ann Aying. </p><p>Bugarin, a college student, said this was her first time riding the OVP’s free bus. She said she saved P45 from her commute. </p><p>“Makakatipid talaga ako, pwede akong  kumain sa fast-food restaurants. Yung baon ko, sakto lang din kasi siya sa pang karinderya o meryenda,” she said. </p><p>“Kanina lang nung pumunta ako sa PITX parang ‘uy libreng sakay’ sige nga try ko yan. Tinry ko and okay naman. Mas maganda na mas rumami pa ang buses,” she added. </p><p>Aying, meanwhile, said the free bus ride was a huge help for her and her child as they saved money. </p><p>“Aside sa makakatipid, hindi siya hassle lalo na sa mga estudyante at sa mga nagwo-work… Na-amaze ako kasi ngayon ko lang narinig na ang bus [ng OVP] may free ride,” she added.</p><p>Castelo said they wanted to make more people aware of the OVP’s programs. </p><p>“This libreng sakay is only one of [the programs]... We are studying kung saan-saan pa may ganyang pangangailangan, we encourage them, the cities and municipalities especially the provinces, kung mayroon silang need for this service, magsabi sila ng OVP,” she said. </p><p>Castelo said the program has served over 2 million individuals since 2022.  </p><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Malacanang said Thursday its doors were open for Vice President Sara Duterte, following her office’s remark that keeping her “out of the loop” and failing to fund her projects were a disservice to the country.</p>

Malacanang said Thursday its doors were open for Vice President Sara Duterte, following her office’s remark that keeping her “out of the loop” and failing to fund her projects were a disservice to the country.

Palace says open to Sara Duterte suggestions, denies lack of support for OVP budget

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Palace says open to Sara Duterte suggestions, denies lack of support for OVP budget

Pia Gutierrez,

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 17, 2025 02:39 PM PHT

|

Updated Jul 31, 2025 06:24 PM PHT

Read More:

ABSNews

ANC promo

Duterte

Marcos

Sara Duterte

OVP

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.