House panel OKs Robredo’s P673-million 2020 budget

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives committee on appropriations yesterday approved the proposed P673-million budget for next year for the office of Vice President Leni Robredo.

Chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, the committee endorsed Robredo’s outlay upon motion of Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who said the panel should accord the Office of the Vice President (OVP) the “traditional courtesy” by approving its budget without any question.The same courtesy is also extended to the Office of the President.

Before the endorsement, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez proposed that funding for Robredo, who heads the unified political opposition, should be increased.

“I belong to the majority, but I am moving for the increase of the Vice President’s budget because we should support a very strong and vibrant opposition. In a democracy, what we need is a clash of ideas on issues, not a clash of personalities,” Rodriguez said.

Of the OVP’s proposed budget for 2020, more than half or P378 million would be allocated for “financial assistance/subsidy,” though the amount is P20 million less than her allocation for such expenses this year. Last year, she had P302.8 million for what lawmakers call as her “pork barrel.”

Her P377.6-million assistance and subsidy fund is the largest expense item in her P552.5-million allocation for maintenance and other operating expenses or MOOE.

Her other MOOE provisions include P48 million for travel, P35 million for “professional services,” the budget language for consultants, P26.6 million for representation, and P15.7 million for supplies and materials.

The OVP will have P108.1 million for salaries, P12.1 million for vehicles and equipment, and P300,000 for furniture, fixtures and books.

In contrast, the Office of the President would have P8.2 billion for 2020, P4.5 billion of which would be for intelligence and confidential expenses.

Although no amount is proposed for the President’s financial assistance or subsidy this year, it has the “social fund,” which holds hundreds of millions in contributions from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. This year, at least P17.2 million was allocated for that purpose.

Other LP congressmen who attended yesterday’s appropriations committee hearing to support their leader’s budget included Edgar Erice of Caloocan; Francis Gerald Abaya of Cavite; Christopher Belmonte of Quezon City, who is LP secretary general; Gabriel Bordado of Camarines Sur; Paul Daza of Northern Samar and Alfonso Umali of Mindoro Oriental.

Belmonte said the OVP requested from the Department of Budget and Management for an increase of P12.6 million over its P671.6-million outlay for this year, but was given a “whopping” P1.4 million.  

Robredo, who has made it a point to attend hearings on her office’s budget, failed to show up yesterday because her flight from Naga City was cancelled due to bad weather.

Her chief of staff, Philip Dy, represented her. He reported that the OVP has built 72 houses for victims of the Marawi siege, partnered with private groups in mobilizing P343 million in resources that benefitted 400,000 families and individuals, and has provided medical assistance worth P598 million to 45,842 poor patients.