Senate panel OKs Office of the President’s budget sans question

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate finance committee approved on Tuesday the proposed  P2.82 billion budget of the  Office  of the  President for 2014 without question.

It was Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa Jr. who  presented  to the committee headed by  Senator  Francis “Chiz” Escudero the proposed  budget  of the OP next year, which  was P89 million or 3 percent higher than this year’s budget of the agency.

The hearing, which started at around  9 a.m. lasted for only about 10 minutes.

“With  courtesy to the Office of the  President , the chair has no questions  other than a reminder – we’ve done this with other agencies as well – to  request  the agency concerned to take the COA (Commission on Audit) recommendations and observations seriously  in so far as their findings are concerned,”  Escudero said after Ochoa’s  presentation.

“Para lahat ng findings matuldukan. Kung  may dinis-allow,  disagree kayo, question-in nyo sa korte. Kung may nag cash advance, hindi nya ni-liquidate, kasuhan nyo na pero hindi pwedeng year in and out yung  findings at observations pare-pareho na lamang,” he said.

Escudero said he was informed for instance that the cash advances under the OP were “relatively high” but said he was also informed that this was a “carryover from the previous administration.”

“Pano yun? Pag wala na yung dating President wala na rin?” the senator asked.

Escudero then directed the OP to sit down with the COA to address the issue.

“We will  comply you honor,” Ochoa said.

“There being no member to raise questions of the Office of the President  and given the courtesies by tradition given to the Office of  the President during the budget deliberations, the chair hereby recommends the approval of the budget of the Office of the President  and submit it  to plenary for deliberations and if at all, amendments,”  Escudero said.

Escudero was the only   senator present during the hearing.

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