Camille Naredo

Former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo answers questions during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo answers questions during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Castelo was officially introduced as the new spokesperson of Vice President Sara Duterte, replacing Reynold Munsayac. The appointment comes amid ongoing public interest in the Vice President’s key programs and policy directions. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

OVP SPOKESPERSON

Carlos Trazo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175725498582820250709-ovp-spox-ruth-castelo-MT11.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo answers questions during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo answers questions during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- Amid ongoing congressional scrutiny over its use of confidential funds in 2022, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) expressed its readiness to once again defend its budget before Congress. The House of Representatives and Senate are set to hold its hearings on September 12 and 15, respectively, with lawmakers expected to revisit questions of transparency, fund utilization, and program overlap, which were issues that have lingered since bulk withdrawals of ₱125 million in confidential funds triggered investigations and public debate. OVP spokesperson Atty. Ruth Castelo confirmed the schedule in an interview, adding its proposed ₱902.8 million budget request, higher than the ₱744 million last year, has been approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to support essential programs. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/16/ovp-seeks-to-retain-p733-m-budget-in-2026-sara-duterte-1433">OVP seeks to retain P733-million budget in 2026: Sara Duterte</a></div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/7/house-panel-urged-to-scrutinize-office-of-president-s-proposed-p27-28-b-budget-1543">House panel urged to scrutinize Office of the President&#x27;s proposed P27.28-B budget </a> </div>“Medyo lumaki ng konti from 2025 to 2026… meron tayong, like you mentioned, it&#x27;s around 21%. Meron kasing mga programa na kailangan talaga na tinaasan naman nila,” she said. “Actually, recommended na yun ng DBM sa Congress so sana ito na iyon. Sana hindi na nila bawasan, we’re ready to defend it anytime,” Castelo also said.Castelo explained that while some previously removed initiatives were not reinstated, the DBM granted additional funding for Vice President Sara Duterte’s flagship projects. These include “Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day,” a livelihood initiative, and the “PagbaBAGo Campaign,” which aims to distribute school bags filled with supplies and plant one million trees for one million learners. “The bags na pinapamigay natin [contain] school supplies, dental kits, and other necessities for our children,” she said. The Disaster Operations Center also received a budget increase to expand aid to communities affected by calamities. While the OVP hopes the proposed budget will remain intact, Castelo said the office is open to realignment if necessary, provided it follows legal and audit procedures. “Kung sakaling kakailanganin natin mag-realign, pwede naman following legal procedures and then the procedures also of the Commission on Audit,” she explained. “But of course, we&#x27;re ready, we&#x27;re open to do that if necessary.” Vice President Duterte’s attendance at the hearings remains unconfirmed, but Castelo assured that a full team, including the undersecretary, assistant secretary, and department heads, is prepared to represent the OVP. “The team, in case wala si VP Sara, will be led by the Undersecretary, and then we have the Assistant Secretary, yung head ng ating finance, head ng HR, and head ng plans and programs. So lahat nakabasta na kami to defend our budget on September 12 and September 15,” she said. Meanwhile, in addressing concerns about transparency and duplication of functions, Castelo cited the OVP’s consistent receipt of unmodified, unqualified audit opinions from the Commission on Audit over the past three years. “Fair lahat ng presentation natin, maayos yung pagpresenta ng documents on the financial transactions,” she said. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/7/marcos-tells-cabinet-after-bersamin-blasts-house-i-hope-lumamig-na-ulo-niyo-1609">Marcos tells Cabinet after Bersamin blasts House: ‘I hope lumamig na ulo niyo’</a> </div>On duplication, she clarified: “Probably merong mga kapareho because we all aim for public service, but ours is actually an augmentation or a complementation of the functions na ng ibang executive offices.” In response to allegations of underutilization and overspending, Castelo said the OVP exercises prudence in spending and strives to fully utilize its budget without exceeding limits. “Wala siyang underutilization, wala rin overspending because how can you overspend kung sobrang liit na nga ng pondo, di ba?” she said. “Pinipilit ng OVP na ubusin lahat ng pondo by the end of the year but of course with the exercise of prudence and proper caution.” When asked about Vice President Duterte’s remarks on investigations into flood control anomalies and corruption in the education department, Castelo declined to elaborate, saying such matters are best addressed directly by Duterte. “Yung mga external, mga issues outside the Office of the Vice President, si Vice President Duterte na lang ang sasagot,” she said. “I speak for the office so internal functions and activities lang yung i-discuss natin.”

Amid ongoing congressional scrutiny over its use of confidential funds in 2022, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) expressed its readiness to once again defend its budget before Congress.

Amid ongoing congressional scrutiny over its use of confidential funds in 2022, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) expressed its readiness to once again defend its budget before Congress.

OVP prepared to defend ₱902.8-M budget for 2026, cites flagship projects and audit record

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OVP prepared to defend ₱902.8-M budget for 2026, cites flagship projects and audit record

Carlos Trazo,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 07, 2025 10:25 PM PHT

Read More:

OVP

budget

Ruth Castelo

Vice President Sara Duterte

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budget hearings

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