MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo expressed opposition to the P100-million slashed from its budget for 2019.
The House of Representatives’ appropriations committee has approved the P447.68-million budget for the Office of the Vice President on Wednesday.
Robredo said the amount recommended by the Department of Budget and Management is lower by P100 million from the proposed P549.6 million.
The approved budget was also cut down by 17 percent from its 2018 budget of P543.95 million.
Robredo explained that the amount lost could be used for other livelihood initiatives.
"'Pag inalis 'yun next year, babalik kami sa 2016 and 2017 na entirely dependent kami on private sector support, (If you remove it next year, we will return to 2016 and 2017 when were entirely dependent on private sector support)," Robredo said in a recorded ambush interview.
Watch Robredo’s reaction to the budget cut here: