‘Tutuloy ang trabaho namin kahit walang budget’ – Duterte

Shekinah Jedidiah Alima

Vice President Sara Duterte announced on Thursday that her office can proceed with their operations despite having zero budget for the sake of the people. 

Photo Courtesy of ABS-CBN News/Philippine News Agency.

“Kaya kailangan tayo – kaya kami, tutuloy din ang trabaho namin kahit walang budget,” Duterte reiterated on a statement released by the Office of the Vice President.

The vice president highlighted that her priority is to help those who experience poverty, especially the ones who cannot afford food.

“Dahil alam namin na ‘yan ‘yung pinakaimportante sa ngayon, na matulungan ‘yung mga kababayan natin na mahirap at walang makain,” she added.

In the same statement, Duterte also called for the public’s cooperation to help the poor as they are constantly increasing.

“Kailangan magkaisa na tumulong sa mga nangangailangan. Dumadami ang naghihirap na mga pamilya. Dumadami ang nakararanas ng gutom.

Duterte made the statements as a response to the possible P1.3 billion budget cut for the OVP in 2025.

She originally requested P2.037 billion, but the House of Representatives appropriations committee recommended to grant her P733.198 million.

According to the panel’s vice chairperson, Rep. Stella Quimbo, the budget cut will be allotted to social assistance and medical programs instead.

Duterte did not show up at the 2nd hearing for her office’s budget deliberation on Sept. 11, as her first hearing strirred tension among the house panels following her inquiry answers.