In a decision that has provoked the ire of the Filipino LGBT+ community, the House of Representatives has dramatically reduced the 2026 budget for Vice President Sara Duterte’s Office of the Vice President (OVP) to just P733 million. This significant cut threatens essential support programs aimed at LGBTQIA Filipinos. Inquirer Slashing the OVP’s proposed P903 million budget mirrors a similar reduction from the previous year and is compounded by Duterte’s decision not to defend her budget in Congress, leaving LGBTQIA initiatives in uncertainty.
Intensifying Budget Dispute
The House passed a P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026, not without contention. Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima spearheaded the move to cut the OVP’s funds from P889.2 million to P733.2 million, matching the 2025 allocation, and framing it as a lesson in accountability. “Public funds are not to be trifled with,” de Lima proclaimed, criticizing Duterte’s absence during plenary sessions. GMA News Duterte sidestepped questions regarding her office’s P625 million in confidential funds, citing her ongoing impeachment and matters of national security.
VP Sara, undeterred, had foreseen the budget cut. “It will mirror last year’s figures,” she remarked in Davao, attributing it to the unchanged administration and House leadership. She dismissed accusations of “habitual absence” as slander from anti-Duterte factions, defending her international trips as support for Filipinos abroad and visits to her incarcerated father. Inquirer
Threat to LGBTQIA Support Programs
This reduction is particularly distressing for the bakla, trans, and queer individuals who rely on OVP aid. Duterte has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQIA issues, noting that 40% of her “Mag-Negosyo Ka ‘Day” beneficiaries are from the community, and recently proposing the creation of an LGBTQIA policies commission. ABS-CBN News Now, with the budget capped at 2025 levels, the survival of these empowerment initiatives is uncertain. Examination of confidential funds might divert resources from street children, women, and LGBT+ outreach, once prioritized by Duterte’s office.
Community leaders are raising their voices. “These figures aren’t just numbers; they represent lives,” remarks Alex Trinidad, a queer advocate. “The OVP was a rare ally; reducing its budget feels like erasure.” While Duterte’s P7.4 million travel security expenses have sparked criticism, her supporters argue that her international advocacy aids overseas Filipino workers, including numerous LGBT+ individuals.
The Future of Queer Pinoy Tenacity
As the Senate reviews the budget, having already reduced funds for other departments like the DPWH, a bicameral confrontation is on the horizon. ANC Can P733 million continue to support Duterte’s pro-LGBTQIA efforts, or will a shift in approach be necessary? The community observes closely, prepared to stand their ground. After all, they’ve overcome greater challenges. Stay resilient, mga bes, our voices will not be silenced.
