Solons seek more budget for Office of the Vice President for next year

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Monday called for an augmentation on the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2021 so that it could continue reaching out to more people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the House appropriations panel budget briefing, Vice President Leni Robredo herself presented the proposed appropriations for her office next year.

She said that while her office proposed a budget of P720 million, the Department of Budget and Management only approved an allocation of P679 million.

The DBM-approved budget, in fact, is even lower than the P699-million allocation for the OVP under the 2020 General Appropriations Act.

Camarines Sur Representative Gabriel Bordado said that there is a need to "recalibrate" the proposed budget of the OVP especially that it has many projects targeting those who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It has been engaging in frontline activities against COVID-19. It has also launched livelihood, education, people empowerment, and other projects throughout the country, but still, its budget is still the smallest in the entire bureaucracy," he said.

"We have to recalibrate the budget allocation considering the number of projects being implemented by the OVP, considering it’s in the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. There is an urgent need to increase its budgetary allocation," he added.

For his part, Cagayan De Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez even recommended to restore the original proposed budget of the OVP and increase it by 10%.

"I believe we should restore the budget of the Vice President by P41 million to make it back to P720 million plus I believe that we should not only give P720 million to the Vice President’s office but I believe that we should increase it," he said.

"I would like to suggest or move in some future time that we give at least 10 percent increase in the budget of the Vice President or another P72 million," he added.

While Rodriguez suggested a 10% increase in the original budget proposal of the OVP, Baguio City Representative Mark Go proposed to double the appropriations of the said office.

"Kung pwedeng gawin nating doble ang budget ng OVP, lalo siyang makakatulong sa ating bansa kung bibigyan natin ng sapat na pondo," he said.

Robredo welcomed the suggestion of the lawmakers to increase the budget of her office.

"We will be very much honored if our budget will be increased. As I've said, we have been so used to making do with what we have but an increased budget will allow us to do more things with the little that will be given to us. So it is very, very much appreciated," he added.

The House appropriations panel has terminated the budget briefing of the OVP, which means that it can now be deliberated in the plenary.—AOL, GMA News