Tiniyak ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin na magagampanan pa rin Office of the President ang mandato nito kahit pa bumaba ang panukalang budget nito sa 2025.
Kabuuang P10.506-B ang panukalang budget ng OP salig sa National Expenditure Program.
1.88% itong mas mababa kumpara sa inaprubahang budget ng tanggapan ng Pangulo ngayong 2024.
For FY-2025, the Office of the President requests a budget of P10,506,201,000 to perform its mandate for the people. This amount, if I may point out, is 1.88% lower than the budget of the Office of the President in FY 2024. Nonetheless, we believe that the proposed amount will be sufficient and adequate for the President to meet the exacting demands of being the Head of State and of Government, the Chief Architect of Philippine Foreign Policy, and the Commander-in-Chief.” sabi ni Bersamin
Ayon kay Sec. Bersamin, tuloy-tuloy lang ang presidential engagements pulong ng gabinete at pakikipag ugnayan sa ibang mga bansa na masinop na ginagasta ang budget bilang pagtalima sa Bagong Pilipinas.
“We have determined that the reduction in the budget being proposed will not affect the delivery of services by the President to the people. More meetings will still be conducted, more Presidential public engagements will still be held, the Cabinet will still be convened as often, if not oftener. The consultations in Malacanang befitting its role as the Policy Center will still be constant and regular. However, these activities will be conducted and held economically, mindful of the need to provide quality services for the people with less financial requirement in support of the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance.” saad pa ng Executive Secretary
Bilang bahagi naman ng tradisyon nagmosyon si Appropriations vice chair Ching Bernos na iterminate na ang pagtalakay sa panukalang pondo ng OP.
Dahil naman naman may pagtutol sa bahagi ng MAKABAYAN bloc nagkaroon muna ng botohan kung itutuloy ito o hindi.
48 na mambabatas ang bumoto pabor sa termination laban sa 3 kaya’t nanaig na tapusin na budget briefing.
Gayonman, pinahintulutan ng komite ang Makabayan bloc na mailahad ang kanilang mga manipestasyon.
Tumagal ng 15 minuto ang pagtalakay sa panukalang pondo ng OP. | ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
