Ombudsman seeks P975M additional funding for 2025

FILE PHOTO: The Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City. INQUIRER/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman is seeking P975-million additional funding for 2025.

Deputy Secretary Ronald Chua bared this budget request during the Senate subcommittee on finance’s Monday hearing.

“This is on account of the intended creation of 62 lawyer positions, which would augment the manpower of the Office of the Ombudsman. This additional manpower would entail a funding requirement of about P557 million for fiscal year 2025,” Chua explained.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires later interjected, saying their request remained pending before the Department of Budget and Management.

“This, I hope, will address this problem of inordinate delay. But I don’t think that is only on administrative aspects as far as I am concerned,” Martires said.

He also said he would soon request the Senate and the House of Representatives that the issue of inordinate delay be defined by law.

The Office of the Ombudsman also intends to establish satellite offices across the country.

“This initiative would then require an additional P400 million. Finally, we also intend to augment non-legal employees of the Office of the Ombudsman for which an additional P18 million is intended to be allocated,” Chua said.

In the same hearing, the Senate subcommittee on finance greenlighted the Office of the Ombudsman’s proposed P5.824 billion budget for 2025.

It was deemed submitted at the committee level and will be transmitted for plenary approval.

READ: Ombudsman Martires: ‘I’d rather not have a confidential fund’