By Josine Estuye
MANILA, (PNA) — Vice President Jejomar Binay Wednesday asked legislators to scrap the P200 million project fund of the Office of the Vice President for next year.
The request was read by Usec. Benjamin Martinez Jr., Chief of Staff of the OVP, during the Senate hearing for the OVP’s 2014 budget.
Martinez said the vice president has decided to end the speculation regarding the ‘true nature’ of the fund, which some lawmakers described as his own ‘pork barrel.’
“Nagdesisyon ako kahit hindi pa man sinasabi ng kinauukulan kung ano ang katangian ng pondong ito, para maiwasan ang ispekulasyon at pamumulitika sa usaping ito,” Martinez said, quoting Binay’s statement.
“Umaasa ako na sa desisyong ito, muli nating maipararating sa ating mga kababayan na tayong mga nasa gobyerno ay laging nakikinig sa kanila at handang maglingkod ng tapat, hayag at may pananagutan,” Binay added.
In line with this, the vice president also noted that he is sure the supposed beneficiaries of the fund will understand his decision to scrap the budget.
“Batid ko na may mga proyektong maapektuhan ng desisyon kong ito, katulad ng mga college scholarships sa mga mahihirap na estudyante, ang pagbibigay ng gamot at tulong sa mga nangangailangan nating mga kababayan at ang pagtatayo ng gusali para sa senior citizens. Alam ko na ito ay maiintindihan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Last year, Binay allocated part of the OVP’s P200-million fund for the construction or repair of senior citizens’ centers nationwide.
It has also funded the construction and repair of 500 senior citizens’ centers from 2011 to 2012. Around 200 more are expected to be built from this year’s fund.
A part of the fund was also used for the Vice President’s scholarship grant-in-aid program, which has 1,160 scholars in state colleges and universities nationwide.
Last June, Commission on Audit lauded the OVP’s social services programs including providing medical, dental, burial, and transportation assistance to some 31,691 indigent beneficiaries nationwide.
State auditors likewise lauded Binay’s grant-in-aid scholarship program and credited the Vice President for distributing school bags and school supplies to 15,975 beneficiaries as educational support.
Moreover, COA hailed the OVP’s accounting unit for being awarded as one of the most outstanding accounting offices among national government agencies in 2011 and 2012.
According to the OVP, with the removal of the P200 million, Binay’s budget is now down to P217 million from the original P417 million.
The OVP’s P200 million fund for locally-funded projects was given starting 2011 and originally came from the unused Priority Development Assistance Fund of then Sen. Benigno Aquino III.
Since 2012, the P200 million was integrated into the OVP’s regular budget.