MANILA – Adhering to tradition, the House committee on appropriations swiftly approved the proposed 2018 budget of the Office of the Vice President in Tuesday’s budget briefing.
Vice President Leni Robredo had not been seated for more than five minutes when the motion of Albay Representative Edcel Lagman to approve the budget was seconded by the members of the panel.
Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles, the appropriations committee chairperson, said the budget proposals of the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President are traditionally given the go-ahead without scrutiny at the committee level. He also said that Robredo was their colleague during the 16th Congress.
After the briefing, guests and House employees took turns in taking their photograph with Robredo.
Robredo said the budget of her office was “just small,” at P443.9 million. For the current year, the OVP was given P428.6 million. CLICK HERE FOR THE DBM-PROPOSED BUDGET.
The main programs of the office are on “enhanced strategic partnership and advocacy on good governance and good governance engagements and social service projects.”
Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was among those who sat down at the budget briefing, but left right away after its approval.