The Office of the Vice President satellite office in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. Photo from Vice President Sara Duterte's official Facebook page

MANILA — At least 2 lawmakers on Tuesday flagged the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) establishment of satellite and extension offices all over the country, with the Commission on Audit (COA) announcing they are set to inspect the said outposts for "validation."

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Zambales Rep. Doris Maniquiz said OVP was spending P53 million annually, or over P4 million monthly, for the lease of 10 satellite and 2 extension offices, which according to her only offer "duplicated" services. 

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"Lumalabas na P53 million ang lease niya per annum. Kung tutuusin duplication lang ng line agencies natin ito. Kasi nakikita natin na yung services offered sa satellite at extension offices ay binibigay din naman ng regional offices, line agencies tulad ng DSWD, DOH, DOLE, TESDA. Hindi po ba natin madi-disallow yung ganung expenses na duplication lang?" Maniquiz asked the Commission on Audit (COA) representative.

COA's Fajad Tomawis said the such rental expenses are allowed under the procurement law. He later clarified that the amount mentioned by Maniquiz also included rental of other properties and equipment. 

The OVP satellite offices provide medical, burial, calamity, and other assistance to identified beneficiaries.

At least 87.98 percent of its P2.037 billion proposed 2025 budget will go to medical and burial assistance, Libreng Sakay, disaster relief operations, relief for individuals in crisis and emergencies (R.I.C.E.) and other programs.

For ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, OVP's satellite offices are just a "waste of money" and asked COA to "further study" them. She said that upon her own investigation of the offices, "yung itsura hindi naman siguro worth that much."

"Kasi talagang parang tingin natin ay waste of money talaga ito, dahil nagagampanan naman ng previous vice presidents yung kainyang madato even with one office," she said.

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Castro said it was only during Duterte's term at OVP that satellite offices were set up.

"First time ito na ang VP may satellite offices, dinaig pa nya yung Office of the President na isa lang yung office," Castro said.

Tomawis said they have already visited the Davao and Cebu offices and are set to inspect the others for "validation."

"Actually we have plans to visit the satellite offices for validation of operation, [to know how] the OVP satellite offices operate and how they use the funds for the implementation of the programs," he said.

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Vice President Sara Duterte and the entire OVP completely snubbed the House of Representatives' 2nd panel deliberation on their proposed 2025 budget. Due to their absence, the office was not able to respond to the lawmakers' questions about their programs. 

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