OVP allots P20M for VP Duterte's 2026 travel

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) allocated P20 million for Vice President Sara Duterte's travel expenses for fiscal year 2026.

As of July 31, 2025, the OVP reported spending P20.68 million for travel expenses, encompassing P13.21 million for local trips and P7.47 million for foreign travels.

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio clarified that Vice President Duterte shoulders her own and her family's expenses for foreign trips using personal funds.

However, public funds amounting to P7.47 million were utilized for the travel of her security and staff for overseas trips.

The agency is preparing for its budget hearing at the House of Representatives on Friday, September 12, with a proposed total budget of P902.885 million for 2026.

Media reports have documented her trips to Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, and the Netherlands.

Political observers suggest that Duterte's trips abroad are part of a strategy to avoid media scrutiny, especially amid allegations of fund misuse and her now-halted impeachment trial.