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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 14) – Congressmen from the majority and minority blocs are seeking a higher budget of up to $ 1 billion for the Office of the Vice President so their projects can reach more Filipinos affected by the pandemic.
Vice President Leni Robredo defended the budget Monday before the House Appropriations Committee, noting that as they try to “get by” with what they have, a larger amount will help them expand the reach of their programs to help different sectors.
OVP has requested a budget of $ 720 million for 2021, but the Department of Budget and Management has only approved $ 679 million under the National Expenditure Program.
Cagayán de Oro representative Rufus Rodríguez recommended a 10 percent increase in OVP’s budget, but Baguio city representative Mark Go and Bayan Muna representative Ferdinand Gaite noted that the budget should double or at least reach more than $ 1 billion, as the ₱ 679 million approved would be “too meager” for its operations.
“It would help us a lot if they gave us more. That would mean we can serve more people and communities,” Robredo said.
Robredo’s office takes the smallest portion of the national budget of $ 4.5 billion currently under congressional scrutiny. His office budget for 2021 is even less than $ 708.01 million this year.
Camarines Sur representative Gabriel Bordado noted that it is “ironic” that OVP has the smallest budget allocation “in the entire bureaucracy,” while managing to obtain the highest audit rating for two consecutive years.
The OVP has been actively coordinating with the private sector to help address the COVID-19 pandemic for the past few months.
The OVP previously launched programs that implemented personal protective equipment, free transportation services, and dormitories for healthcare workers. It also purchased coronavirus extraction and testing kits that were delivered to various private and state labs.
Robredo’s office also recently launched the “Bayanihanapbuhay” platform to help Filipinos search for job opportunities online. For their second stage, they will launch another initiative within the week to provide opportunities to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises or MSMEs that previously benefited from their Angat Buhay anti-poverty program.
Lawmakers will still finalize the 2021 budget for the OVP during plenary debates.
CNN Philippines’ Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report.
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