MANILA -- The PHP443.95-million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2018 breezed through the House of Representatives' appropriations committee after just a two-minute deliberation on Tuesday.
Vice President Leni Robredo was present during her office’s budget hearing at the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon.
The OVP’s budget was approved by the appropriations committee, headed by Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, within just two minutes in adherence to the tradition of the lower chamber not to raise questions with respect to the highest officials of the country.
"With due deference and respect to the Vice President... we will dispense with the presentation and we terminate this budget briefing of the Office of the Vice-President and we will consider it as approved," Nograles said.
The PHP443.95-million OVP budget for next year is 3.58 percent higher than the PHP428.62-million 2017 budget.
The increase was due to the Personnel Services budget in view of the 29 filled positions created in 2016, therefore posting an increase of 36.71 percent to PHP83.58 million from the current PHP61.14 million. (PNA)
