PBBM open to OVP’s ‘meaningful’ suggestions – Palace

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Duterte (left) and President Bongbong Marcos (right) during the 45th Philippine National Police Academy Commencement Exercises, Camp General Mariano N. Castañeda, Silang, Cavite, April 19, 2024. (PCO Photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is receptive to the “meaningful” suggestions that may come from the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Malacañang said on Thursday.

This was after OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo said Wednesday that keeping Vice President Sara Duterte out of the loop or not being able to provide funds for her projects and programs is “a great disservice to the country.”

“Kung anuman po ang suhestiyon na makabuluhan, magandang suhestiyon na magmumula sa OVP, hindi po ito tinatanggihan at hindi po sinasara ng Pangulo ang pintuan sa Bise Presidente (If there is any meaningful, good suggestion that comes from the OVP, the President does not reject it and the door is not closed to the Vice President),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing, in response to Castelo’s remarks.

“Lahat po ng maaaring suhestiyon na makabuluhan ay tatanggapin po iyan kung ito naman po ay makakatulong sa taumbayan (All possible meaningful suggestions will be accepted if they would benefit the people).”

Castro, however, lamented that no less than Duterte herself said she would not help the Marcos administration, even though she knows the “formula” to reduce the price of rice.

She said Marcos is ready to listen to the OVP’s suggestions for the country’s betterment, but Duterte chose not to cooperate.

“So, hindi po nanggagaling sa Pangulo o sa administrasyon na ito ang pagharang sa kaniyang mga gustong gawin para sa taumbayan (it is not the President or this administration that is blocking what she wants to do for the people),” Castro said.

Castro also denied that Marcos had a hand in the slashed budget of the OVP for 2025, noting that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) even raised the office’s budget by PHP170 million to PHP903 million for 2026.

The OVP sought a budget of PHP2.03 billion for 2025, but the House of Representatives reduced the appropriations to PHP733 million due to Duterte’s refusal to answer lawmakers’ queries on her office’s budget utilization.

The OVP initially proposed a budget of PHP733 million for 2026, matching its 2025 allocation.

“Kung anuman po ang naging desisyon ng House of Representatives, ng Congress ay hindi na po ito saklaw ng Pangulo (Whatever the decision of the House of Representatives, of Congress is, it is no longer within the scope of the President), Castro said.

“Mas mabuti po siguro, kung gusto, nais niya po ng mas malaking budget, katulad ng isang estudyante, kung meron kayong thesis na gustong idepensa, idepensa niyo po ng maayos para kayo’y mapagbigyan (Maybe it would be better, if she wants a bigger budget, like a student, if you have a thesis that you want to defend, defend it properly so [the budget] would be granted).”