Vice President Sara Duterte of the Philippines has submitted a budget request of ₱733 million for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the fiscal year 2026. This proposed budget is nearly identical to the funding distributed to the OVP in 2025 and represents the smallest budget submission during the current administration.

It is also significantly lower than the ₱2.3 billion and ₱1.8 billion budgets received in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

In her remarks, Vice President Duterte indicated that they did not attempt to request a larger budget, anticipating that such efforts would not be accommodated by lawmakers.

She noted that this budget submission aims to prevent embarrassment for her staff when addressing legislators.

The Vice President acknowledged that the smaller budget would naturally limit the number of projects the OVP can undertake, reflecting on the previous year's challenges when the office had to suspend certain programs due to funding cuts.

In related developments, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has enacted a significant policy change, removing value-added tax (VAT) from nine essential medications.

This decision, formalized in Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 59-2025, was signed by BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui and is aligned with recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The exempted medications include treatments for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and tuberculosis.

The VAT removal is expected to decrease the prices of these vital drugs, making them more accessible to patients in need.

The exempt medications cover a range of specific treatments:
- Cancer medication: Bortezomid, Docetaxel, Lenvatinib, Lenalidomide, and Paclitaxel.

- Diabetes medication: Saxagliptin with Dapagliflozin.

- Hypertension treatments: Losartan with Rosuvastatin and Amlodipine.

- Kidney disease solution: Peritoneal Dialysis Solution with 2.5% Dextrose.

- Tuberculosis treatment: Rifampicin with Isoniazid and Pyrazinamide.

Furthermore, in response to an increased emphasis on social programs, the government has initiated measures for TUPAD workers to manage Kadiwa stores, facilitating the nationwide sale of rice priced at ₱20. This move aims to support food security amid rising costs.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also made strides in enhancing the global presence of Filipino animation at the Annecy International Animation Film Market (MIFA) 2025, held from June 10 to 13 in Annecy, France.

The DTI has showcased Filipino studios and animation capabilities to foster international partnerships and expand market opportunities in the creative sector.

This initiative coincides with a recently signed co-production agreement between the Philippines and France, facilitating collaborations in film and animation.

Furthermore, after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas on June 5, the DTI has implemented a price freeze on essential goods in the region.

This measure is intended to stabilize prices and protect consumers during the ongoing recovery efforts following the calamity.