MANILA, Sept. 10 (PNA) — A lawmaker on Thursday asked the Office of the President (OP) if it really needs a budget of Php 2.8 billion for 2016 because he claims it still has unused funds from 2014.
Rep. Antonio L. Tinio (Party-list, ACT Teachers) raised the issue during Thursday’s hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Isidro T. Ungab (3rd District, Davao City) on the OP 2016 budget proposal, which was defended by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.
Tinio said based on his review of the OP budgets, the total unused appropriation for 2014 was Php 2.5 billion, out of a total budget of Php 3.4 billion.
“The total unused appropriation for 2014 was P2.5 billion. So ang nagamit ninyo lang out of Php 3.4 billion was Php 900 million. Now, you are asking for Php 2.8 billion for next year,” said Tinio.
Ochoa, however, immediately clarified that based on record, the available balance, in so far as the status of funds of the OP is concerned, is only Php 308 million as of July 31, 2015 .
“Most of the OP budget for 2014 has already been obligated, that’s Php 2.4 billion,” said Ochoa.
Ochoa said there was also a bigger portion in the 2014 budget called International Commitments Fund, which is intended to support the expenditure for hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in the country and some ongoing activities until November. “But even that, we were able to obligate, thus leaving the OP with an available balance of Php 300 million,” said Ochoa.
He explained there were items in the 2014 budget that could be used until 2015. “The budget for 2014 has a lifetime availability of two years,” he said.
For 2015, Ochoa said out of the Php 2.5 billion appropriation, the OP had already obligated Php 898 million.
Of the Php 2.8 billion proposed budget of the OP for 2016, Php 1.9 billion shall go to maintenance and other operating expenses, Php 771.67 million to personnel services, and Php 96.99 million to capital outlays. (PNA)