House to extend courtesy to OVP in 2027 budget talks despite impeachment trial, lawmaker says

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 17, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) will still be treated with courtesy and respect when the House of Representatives takes up its proposed 2027 budget, a senior lawmaker said Sunday, even as Vice President Sara Duterte faces an ongoing impeachment trial at the Senate.

House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong made the assurance in an interview. 

Adiong, who also serves as vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the chamber had consistently extended that courtesy to Duterte’s office, pointing to how her budget was taken up on the floor during the 2026 cycle even though she was not present for the deliberations.

“The mere fact that we allowed her budget to be deliberated on the floor, even without her presence, is a manifestation of that courtesy that we have extended to her office,” he said.

Scrutiny still expected

Alonto Adiong stressed, however, that courtesy toward the OVP does not mean its budget request would be shielded from questions.

“Respect is there, but it does not also mean that she should be immune from questions; that we disallow or we preclude members of the appropriations committee from asking questions about certain matters pertaining to her budget,” he said.

He said appearing before Congress to defend a budget request is part of any agency’s responsibility when seeking public funds for its projects and programs.

“When an agency is asking for its budget, you should face it because the members of the House of Representatives represent the people all over the country,” he said, speaking partly in Filipino.

He added that lawmakers who fail to question agencies about their proposed allocations would themselves be neglecting their oversight duties.

“If none of us would ask questions about that budget, that is also a dereliction of our duty because we are being paid by taxpayers’ money to precisely ask these agencies where and how they implement these programs and projects that we approved,” he said.

Adiong recalled reaching out to Duterte directly during the previous budget cycle to discuss the OVP’s proposed allocation but said he did not receive a response.

“I was the first, one of the first sponsors of her budget. And I was ghosted,” he said.

Despite that experience, he said the House still hopes Duterte will attend the coming deliberations.

“What is important is that the House of Representatives expects and hopes that she would attend the coming budget deliberation,” he said.

Budget timeline

The Department of Budget and Management transmitted the proposed P7.2-trillion National Expenditure Program for 2027 to Congress on Aug. 11. The House Committee on Appropriations is scheduled to begin discussions on the proposal on Aug. 17.

The OVP’s budget hearing will take place as the Senate continues to hear the impeachment case against Duterte, adding a layer of political tension to the chamber’s handling of her office’s funding request.