DAVAO CITY – A Malacañang official said the Office of the President is planning to increase its fund by 10 percent next year “due to higher funding requirement for personnel services and capital outlays.”
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. told the House of Representatives on Thursday that the Office of the President (OP) was increasing its spending plan for fiscal year 2016 by 10 percent.
Ochoa appeared before the House Committee on Appropriations and presented the proposed P2.825 billion budget plan which is P258 million higher from the 2015 allocation of P2.567 billion.
The proposed funding for OP’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) is higher by two percent, or P46.6 million, to P1.957 billion, from the current year’s appropriation, while the Capital Outlay (CO) has been raised to P96.9 million, by 76.9 million, for 2016 “to fund continuing improvements being undertaken within the OP facilities.”
“The proposed budget for Personnel Services (PS) is higher by 21 percent, or P134.67 million more, to P771.67 million, compared to the previous spending package, in order to meet the actual salaries and other compensation benefits of all OP personnel as of December 31, 2014, including retirement and life insurance premiums,” said a statement to the press from the office of Ochoa.
“When broken down to reflect the output and activities of the office, 71 percent of the P2.825-billion budget would be earmarked for operations, while 29 percent for general administration and support services,” said Ochoa.
Under Executive Order No. 292, the OP consists of the OP-Proper and bodies under the chairmanship of the President, other executive offices, and government-owned and controlled corporations under it.(davaotoday.com)
