The Office of the Vice President introduces former Trade and Industry undersecretary Ruth Castelo as spokesman at the OVP Central office in Mandaluyong City on July 9, 2025. Castelo said that the OVP 'did not need to convince her' to accept the position of spokesman and wanted to highlight all the accomplishments of the OVP. She started by announcing that the OVP was slated to receive an increase in its annual budget for 2026 to at least P903 million, and that the Commission on Audit has given the OVP an 'unmodified opinion' in its 2024 Audit report.
VIDEO BY RED MENDOZA
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00:00Thank you. I remember seeing you in ETI. Actually, it was no convincing for the part of the vice president or her staff.
00:12They did not need to convince me. I actually submitted an application for any position, for anything that I can do to help the office of the vice president.
00:22And I'm fortunate that I was given this trust and confidence. And my purpose of being here, including, well, the first days today, is to actually highlight all the accomplishments of the office of the vice president.
00:37You would see that, yes, the vice president is the second highest leader in the country. And she would have similar obligations to the people as the president.
00:51And that is what we're going to do here because the office of the vice president for the last three years has been performing and delivering basic services to the people.
00:59But we would need to give more emphasis and so that everyone in the country, the public in general, would know.
01:10Ma'am, last question na lang po on my end. Ma'am, dun po na tayo sa budget po, ma'am, sa budget ng OVP.
01:16I heard that the vice president said na they want to stay noon sa same level as what was given in 2025.
01:23Magdagod-bago po po ba yon? Or meron po bang konting changes sa increase po ba?
01:31Or mananatiliwa rin po ba dun sa level na 738 million as what was given in the Congress last year?
01:38And if ever, ma'am, mag-erequest po ba si EPP ng a little increase man lang, if ever, ma'am, if medyo friendly?
01:45Yes, thank you, Red. Yes, the Office of the Vice President retains the 733 million, I understand, with a little bit of increase to cover personal services and then other operation costs that will help them fulfill the mandate that they have. It's not a lot, and of course it will be most welcome if Congress gives the Office of the Vice President more than what we're asking for.
02:15And we made a proposal of 733 million for 2026, copying 2025, but BPM gave us 803.6 million. So, nagdagdag sila ng less than 70, 60-something million.
02:35And then, nung nagdagdag sila ng 60-something million, we requested for additional personal services. Siyempre, may cost yun yung na-mention ko kanina na additional employees para mas ma-fulfill yung functions.
02:50And other IT equipment that are needed for the OVP. Ang binigay na final ng BBM is 903 million.
03:01Ah, yung pinaasad.
03:02Siyempre, may cost yun yung three without the confidential funds na kuya?
03:05No, confidential funds. O, hindi naman na tayo nag-request it.
03:08Bakit po ma, hindi na nag-request it?
03:10Um, if they want to give, they want to give.
03:13Give it in effect because of what happened in the house.
03:16Um, additional, ano, additional...
03:22Okay na yun, hindi na siya, no.
03:25Hindi na.
03:26Ma'am, do we have to figure already as to how many additional employees or at least gadgets will be added that will be covered by the additional amount?
03:36Uh, there should be a list from the office dahil the requested amount was more than 100 million pero ang tinagdag na lang from 803 naging 903.
03:48So, 100 million lang yung in-approve.
03:50Some clarification lang din. As to the nature of the work of this additional personnel, are they security staff or secretaries, receptionists? Ano po yung function na yun?
03:59Um, ahalo-halo na yun. Also, for the satellite offices, for all the programs and projects, and of course, inflation rate, di ba? Ano rin yan, we factor that in.
04:10Ma'am, how confident are you na papasa po ito sa Kongreso? Consider yun na mas mataas siya sa 2025 budget?
04:17Uh, we can just hope and pray that they see the need for this budget.
04:22Pero a-attend po kayo ng mga congressional hearings sa budget?
04:25Uh, the staff, the full complement of the office of the vice president on budget will be there.
