House OKs P6.7B Office of the President budget for 2019 in less than 10 mins

The House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved in less than 10 minutes the proposed P6.773 billion 2019 budget of the Office of the President (OP).

The OP’s proposed budget is 12.3 percent higher from this year’s P6.03 billion allocation.

Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Appropriations chair Rep. Karlo Nograles, Deputy Speaker Prospero Pichay Jr. and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea were among the key officials present during the budget briefing.

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman made the motion to immediately approve the budget after Undersecretary Rizalina Justol made the presentation. Pichay seconded the motion and no lawmaker objected or raised any question.

READ: OP seeks P6.8-B budget for 2019; OVP’S budget cut

During the budget defense, Medialdea said the increase in the OP budget took into account the inflation rate, implementation of the fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL), retrofitting of office-owned buildings, and replacement of worn-out tools and equipment.

Justol said their proposed budget for personnel services is P1.078 billion, an 8.45 percent increase from the 2018 budget.

Maintenance and other operating expenses would get P5.184 billion, or an 11.09 percent increase from this year’s P4.666 billion allocation, she added.

Meanwhile, capital outlay would be given P511.663 million, which is a 38.22 percent increase from this year’s P370.190 million, said Justol. /muf