The Office of the Vice President (OVP) had requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the grant of ₱403.46 million recalibrated budget, including the ₱250 confidential funds, in 2022.
The OVP's request letter dated August 22 and addressed to DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandama was shared to the media on Tuesday, September 26.
Based on the letter, Vice President Sara Duterte requested ₱250 million in confidential funds "for and in consideration of the safe implementation of the various projects and activities in the Good Governance program."
She added that the confidential funds would be used for her office's "official engagements and functional representation" in international and domestic events "as instructed" by President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.
Basahin> kopya ng sulat ni VP Sara Duterte sa DBM na may petsang Aug 22, 2022 na humihiling para sa various purposes kabilang ang confidential funds na P125M @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/82duHSseYH
— milky rigonan 💋 (@milkyrigonan) September 26, 2023
The Vice President also asked for ₱144.72 million for the augmentation of financial assistance or subsidy to clients catered by the OVP satellite offices in Bacolod, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Surigao, Tacloban, and Zamboanga.
Alongside, Duterte stated the OVP would be providing Special Duty Allowance (SDA) for the 450 personnel complement under the Vice-Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), hence additional ₱8.74 million was needed.
Moreover, she requested ₱107.46 million for the hiring of 192 coterminous and contractual employees who would be deployed for the projects including the establishment of three satellite offices, the Libreng Sakay program, OVP Food Trucks for nutritional programs and disaster activities, and the implementation of 911, peace-building initiative.
The OVP's request letter was publicized a day after it was revealed that OVP had spent ₱125 million in confidential funds in 11 days and not 19 days during the House deliberations on the proposed 2024 national budget,
