Marilyn Cahatol

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte lead the Basic Education Report 2024 at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City on January 25, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should not allow lawmakers to “meddle” with the national budget, which originates from a bill that is itself based on a proposal from the executive branch.</p><p>The executive branch t submits its National Expenditure Program to the House of Representatives, where budget bills originate, every year.</p><p>The NEP is based on targets and projections set by the Development Budget Coordinating Committee, proposals from government agencies, and coordination and consolidation by the Department of Budget and Management.</p><p>The NEP is subject to scrutiny by both chambers of Congress, which hold hearings on the proposed budgets of various agencies and offices.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/29/house-resolution-seeks-to-open-bicam-deliberations-to-public-1755"><strong>Romualdez: House will open bicam budget deliberations, review infra projects<br/></strong></a></div><p>“Dapat kontrolado ng President ‘yung budget. Dapat kung ano ‘yung lumalabas sa budgeting system from the Regional Development Council, paakyat sa National Development Council, paakyat sa Cabinet level at kung ano ‘yung napag-usapan based on development plans, yun ang nasusunod,” she said in an interview at The Hague, the Netherlands Thursday, Aug. 28.</p><p>(The President should control the budget. What comes out of the budgeting system, from the regional development conucils to the National Development Council to the Cabinet level and what has been discussed in development plans should be followed)</p><p>“Dapat hindi pumapayag ang Pangulo na pakialaman ng legislators ang budget. ‘Yun lang yung dalawang bagay diyan. Dapat alam niya kung ano nangyayari,” she added.</p><p>(The President should not let legislators meddle with the budget. Just those two things. The President should know what is happening)</p><p>This was her response when asked if she has solutions in mind to address the problem of corruption in the country and to ensure that public funds are judiciously spent.</p><p>The Constitution, however, mandates Congress to scrutinize the national budget submitted by the President, as the legislative branch is equal to the executive.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/29/gatchalian-flags-questionable-items-in-proposed-2026-budget-1132"><strong>Gatchalian flags &#x27;questionable items&#x27; in proposed 2026 budget</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>BUDGET DELIBERATIONS</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Office of the Vice President spokesperson Ruth Castelo said Duterte’s attendance at congressional budget hearings has been &quot;pencil booked&quot; but that her beign there would depend on prior engagements.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/9/dbm-hikes-ovp-s-proposed-2026-budget-to-p903m-spox-1332"><strong>DBM hikes OVP’s proposed 2026 budget to P903M: spox</strong></a></div><p>“Pero kasama po ang mga officials ng OVP na assigned dito sa budget na ito (But there are OVP officials assigned to the budget) . Like our finance, our HR, of course, the assistant secretary and the undersecretary,” Castelo said in an interview after leading the OVP’s tree-planting activity in Hermosa, Bataan Friday, Aug. 29.</p><p>Heads of agencies have traditionally attended budget hearings to defend their offices&#x27; proposed spending.</p><p>The OVP is set to appear before the House on September 12 and before the Senate on September 15, according to Castelo.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/sara-duterte-urged-explain-confidential-fund-use-in-2026-house-budget-deliberations-1704">Sara Duterte urged to explain confidential fund use in 2026 House budget deliberations</a></div><p>She said Duterte is &quot;ready any time&quot; to attend budget deliberations if the House compels her atendance.</p><p>“Kaya naman po niya talagang harapin yan lahat. Ang magiging diperensya lang po natin nga ay ‘yung sa schedule, ‘yung pag-schedule ng engagements,” she stated.  </p><p>(She can really attend to all that. but there may be conflicts in her schedule)</p><p>Duterte’s attendance in last year’s House panel hearing on the proposed 2025 national budget made headlines as she refused to give direct answers to lawmakers’ queries, repeatedly saying that she would “forgo the opportunity to defend the OVP 2025 budget” and would “leave it to the House of Representatives to decide on the proposal as presented.”</p><p>Duterte later accused the House of holding &quot;scripted&quot; budget hearings.</p><p>Castelo said she hopes for the swift passage of the office’s budget next year, citing the absence of confidential funds — an issue that led to Duterte&#x27;s impeachment.</p><p>The Supreme Court ruled in July that the impeachment case against her was unconstitutional. Motions of reconsideration have been filed over that decision.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/29/sara-duterte-to-attend-ofw-event-in-japan-days-before-dad-rodrigo-s-icc-hearing-1230"><strong>Sara Duterte to attend OFW event in Japan days before dad Rodrigo’s ICC hearing</strong><br/></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YQWFbzMoEVc?si=rHxmXgY9xQJQ8RG3" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should not allow lawmakers to “meddle” with the national budget.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should not allow lawmakers to “meddle” with the national budget.

President should not let legislators 'meddle' with national budget, Sara Duterte says

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President should not let legislators 'meddle' with national budget, Sara Duterte says

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 29, 2025 02:51 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

national budget

budget deliberations

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