Over half of OVP’s proposed 2020 budget will go to community aid, subsidies — exec

More than half of the proposed P671-million budget of the Office of the Vice President Leni Robredo for 2020 has been earmarked for subsidies and other aid to communities, Robredo’s Chief of Staff and Undersecretary Boyet Dy said Wednesday.

Dy said that of OVP’s P552 million budget for its Maintenance and Other Operating expenses, 68 percent—or P375 million, more than half of the proposed P671-million budget—has been allocated to the implementation of the OVP’s flagship anti-poverty program Angat Buhay and other individuals in need.

“Sixty-eight percent ng aming operations budget ay napupunta sa subsidies. Ito ‘yung ginagamit para sa pagbibigay ng medical assistance, burial assistance, saka itong flagship program na Angat Buhay,” Dy said at the sidelines of the budget hearing in he House of Representatives.

During the budget deliberations, Representatives Gabriel Bordado of Camarines Sur and Sarah Elago of Kabataan party-list backed augmentation for the OVP's budget.

Dy welcomed the gesture, saying that the OVP has always wanted to maximize its budget to be able to aid more people.

“Kaya nagpapasalamat ang OVP sa suporta ng mga kongresista para sa dagdag na budget. Tinitignan pa namin kung anong pinakamagandang paggamit kung may madadagdagna pondo, kasi meron ring mga bagong initiatives ang OVP,” Dy said.

“Maliban sa Angat Buhay, meron [na rin] kaming engagement sa sectoral groups…mga urban poor groups, farmers groups, fisherfolk communities…” Dy added.

Angat Buhay, an initiative which combines the resources of the OVP and the private sector to help communities, was able to mobilize P340 million worth of assistance courtesy of the private sector, according to Dy.

The OVP initially proposed a P678-million budget before the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), but the DBM only granted it P671 million.

Dy, however, clarified that the OVP does not feel slighted by the reduction.

“Nagpapasalamat kami kasi hindi naman nalalayo [sa hiningi namin],” Dy added. — BM, GMA News