House panel approves OP budget for 2019 in minutes

FILE: House appropriations committee chairman Karlo Nograles (Photo: Karlo Nograles/Facebook)

MANILA — The House of Representatives’ appropriations committee on Wednesday swiftly approved the PHP6.77-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for 2019.

The panel, chaired by Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, approved the OP budget in less than 10 minutes upon the motion of Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman to terminate the deliberation without any interpellation consistent with “enduring tradition” in the lower chamber.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea attended the OP budget hearing. Also present was Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The OP’s PHP6.77-billion proposed budget for next year is 12.32 percent higher than the current appropriation of PHP6.03 billion.

Bulk of the budget will go to the maintenance and other operating expenses at PHP5.18 billion, followed by personnel services at PHP1.078 billion, and capital outlay at PHP511.663 million.