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MANILA – The Senate Finance Committee agreed Wednesday to restore the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) full 2021 budget proposal set at P723 million, citing the office’s high audit rating and good track record.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) initially removed P45 million from the OVP’s proposed 2021 funding, and only approved a P679.74 million budget for the country’s second-highest official.
A portion of the cut funds was supposed to be used to purchase replacement service vehicles, as the 6 cars assigned to the OVP “can no longer be used,” Vice President Leni Robredo told senators at a budget hearing.
“We are not adding new vehicles. It is just to replace old vehicles,” Robredo said, noting that half a dozen vehicles have been parked in the OVP garage for about 7 years.
“For our relief operations, we have already been using the vehicles of our private personnel. That is not a problem for our personnel, but we could not charge for gasoline,” he said.
Opposition senator Francis Pangilinan, an opposition ally and Robredo’s party partner, said the OVP deserves a full budget in 2021, especially after receiving the highest audit rating from the Audit Commission (COA).
“Based on the COA reports and the vice president’s reports, clearly these resources are being used well,” Pangilinan said.
OVP’s accomplishments this year include establishing several community markets across the country, creating an online employment platform, and its own anti-poverty program.
“In government, if you see an agency that works, it is effective, you should give them more,” he said.
The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Sonny Angara, backed the OVP’s request to restore its full budget by 2021, saying the vice president never had “institutional rights” such as an official residence and an official vehicle.
Senators Nancy Binay, Lito Lapid and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. also supported the restoration of OVP’s P723 million funding for next year.
The OVP budget hearing has been the fastest funding deliberation in the Senate yet.
The Committee approved the OVP’s 2021 budget after a 20-minute discussion.
Office of the Vice President, OVP, Leni Robredo, 2021 budget, 2021 Robredo budget, 2021 OVP budget, Senate OVP budget
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