Malacañang on Thursday, July 17, reaffirmed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s willingness to support the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) programs and his openness to all meaningful proposals from Vice President Sara Duterte.
During the Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro addressed recent remarks by OVP Secretary Ruth Castelo, claiming the administration is excluding the Vice President from key decisions and limiting support for OVP programs.
“On the part of the Palace, welcome po kung anuman po ang makabuluhan at magandang suhestiyon na magmumula sa OVP. Hindi po ito tinatanggihan at hindi po sinasara ng Pangulo ang pintuan sa Bise Presidente,” Castro said.
Castro emphasized that President Marcos remains committed to cooperation as long as it will benefit the Filipino people, saying, “Lahat po ng maaaring suhestiyon na makabuluhan ay tatanggapin po iyan kung ito naman po ay makakatulong sa taumbayan.”
Meanwhile, the Palace press briefer also lamented Duterte’s choice not to cooperate to engage with the administration, despite previously stating that she knows the “formula” to reduce rice prices.
“Hindi po nanggagaling sa Pangulo o sa administrasyon na ito ang pagharang sa kaniyang mga gustong gawin para sa taumbayan,” she declared.
Castro likewise denied President Marcos’ involvement in the reduction of allocated funds for the OVP in 2025, citing that on the contrary, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has raised the office’s budget by P170 million, amounting to a total of P903 million for 2026.
“Kung anuman po ang naging desisyon ng House of Representatives, ng Congress, ay hindi na po ito saklaw ng Pangulo. Mas mabuti po siguro kung mas nais niya po ng mas malaking budget, katulad ng isang estudyante; kung mayroon kayong thesis na gustong idepensa, idepensa niyo po nang maayos para po kayo ay mapagbigyan,” she concluded.
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