House panel swiftly approves OVP’s P673-M budget for 2020

Vice President Leni Robredo / SCREENGRAB from OVP Facebook Page

MANILA, Philippines — In less than half an hour and without any objections, the House appropriations committee on Tuesday approved the P673-million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2020.

OVP’s approved spending plan is P2 million higher than its P671 million budget for this year.

Two lawmakers also made a manifestation to further augment the budget of OVP, noting that the office’s programs and projects “really touch the lives of many people.” The additional amount, however, was neither mentioned nor discussed during the panel’s budget hearing.

Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez noted that OVP’s maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) only increased .44 percent for 2020.

He also said that OVP’s budget, especially for its anti-poverty programs, needs additional funding.

“The program ‘Angat Buhay’ of the Vice President, the ‘Ahon Laylayan’ and the ‘Storya ng Pag-asa’, certainly require additional budget because their programs really go directly to the people,” Rodriguez said.

“I am moving that this committee looks into this budget with the end view of increasing and augmenting the MOOE so that the projects of the Vice President would really be financed,” he added.

Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bordado echoed Rodriguez’s remarks in increasing the budget of OVP.

“I support that we have to in effect increase the budget of the OVP considering the activities being undertaken by the Office and its other programs and projects really touch the lives of many people in the so-called ‘laylayan’ sector,” he said.

Vice President Leni Robredo was not able to attend the budget hearing and was only represented by her Chief-of-Staff Philip Dy.

Dy said the Vice President intended to attend the hearing but her flight from Naga to Manila was canceled due to the prevailing inclement weather in many parts of Luzon due to Tropical Storm “Jenny.” /kga