Palace justifies P8.2-B OP budget for 2020

“The Palace reiterates that the increase in the budget of the Office of the President, where the seat of power and supremacy in governance lies, is necessary in order to provide efficient, meaningful, and effective public service to the Filipino people,” Panelo said in a statement on Tuesday. (Photo: Malacañang/Website)

MANILA — Malacañang justified the Office of the President’s PHP8.2-billion budget for 2020 stressing that the significant increase is necessary to help augment the possible shortage of funds in other agencies.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this reaction following backlash that the OP’s budget increased by PHP1.5 billion compared to the PHP6.7 billion allocated for this year.

“The Palace reiterates that the increase in the budget of the Office of the President, where the seat of power and supremacy in governance lies, is necessary in order to provide efficient, meaningful, and effective public service to the Filipino people,” Panelo said in a statement on Tuesday.

“In times of national emergencies and calamities, coupled with cries for help from all walks of life, and when the departments and agencies that provide basic services or responses to the public run short of funds, the OP steps in to extend a helping hand and augment whatever shortage there may be in delivering the requisite assistance,” he added.

Panelo also said the amount is also meant to secure the country from internal and external threats since the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is bent on fighting criminality in the country.

“The intensified efforts of this government, with the Office of the President at the helm, against criminality and various perils against the Philippines’ security and sovereignty have indeed created a changed environment in our society where the people feel safe as they go about living their daily lives,” Panelo said.

“We intend to maintain such an environment and even improve it in the remaining years of the Duterte Presidency,” he added.

Citing Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Panelo acknowledged that the OP budget was also significantly lower during the previous administration.

“As correctly pointed out by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea that while the budget allocation for the Office of the President during the time of former President Benigno Aquino III was significantly lower, its achievements and accomplishments are nonetheless commensurate thereto in that there was little to no substantial improvement in governance,” Panelo said.

Panelo also recalled how during last year’s budget hearing, Medialdea said the OP’s budget should be increased since PHP2.5 billion was not enough.

“The Palace seconds the Executive Secretary’s position on the matter, knowing that with the strong resolve of the President to pursue programs and policies that will finally bring genuine change to the nation, we will need the necessary financial support,” Panelo said.

Panelo further emphasized how proof that the administration’s accomplishments are appreciated can be seen in surveys that show President’s consistent high trust and approval rating.

“The people have seen and experienced in the three years of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s presidency, an unprecedented success in many fronts, especially in the aspect of law and order, as well as in the overall public administration of the government,” Panelo said.

“The unparalleled approval rating by the Filipino people in favor of this administration is proof of these accomplishments,” he added.

In its proposed PHP4.1-trillion national budget for 2020, the OP gets a PHP8.2 billion budget which consists of PHP6.7 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), PHP 1.1 billion for personnel services and PHP427 million for capital outlay.

Of the OP’s PHP6.7 billion MOOE budget, the office allocated PHP4.5 billion for confidential and intelligence funds.

Last week, Panelo defended the PHP4.5 billion worth of funds allocated to the OP for intelligence-gathering noting that it was necessary to protect Filipinos against security threats.

“Dapat naman sa (It should be in the) Office of the President, it has to have resources to determine iyong mga (the) threats against the state. Kailangan iyon (That’s necessary), and you need money for that,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing on August 22.

He further said the OP is one of the “better offices” that can secure the security of the land, noting it is not exempted from accountability.

“Number one si Presidente nga na ayaw ng corruption eh (The President is the number one person against corruption),” Panelo said.

“Lahat na mayroong hawak ng pera (All agencies that have funds) are required by law to account, so I don’t think there is a problem with that,” he added.