The Senate Committee on Finance approved on Wednesday the proposed 2021 budget of the office of Vice President Leni Robredo, with some senators moving for its increase.
The finance committee led by Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara tackled the P679.74-million proposed allocation of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) under the government's spending plan for next year.
The proposed budget was lower than the office's P708-million appropriation for 2020.
During the hearing, Robredo said they initially submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) a proposal of P723.39 million.
The some P44 million funds not approved by the budget department included the OVP's request for the purchase of six new motor vehicles, and the restoration of their funds for research and development.
Asked by the Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon to elaborate, Robredo explained that the vehicles would be to replace the OVP vehicles that are "no longer usable". The vehicles were more than seven years old and "have already reached the end of its estimated useful life", according to the OVP report submitted to the Senate.
"For our relief ops, we have been using the private vehicles of our staff already since we cannot use office vehicles anymore. But that is not a problem as far as our staff is concerned, but the problem there is we couldn't charge gasoline, so we have been -- that's out of pocket already -- the gasoline that we are using for most of our operations," Robredo told the Senate panel.
"We're not adding new vehicles, technically, Sen. Those are replacement vehicles," she clarified.
The replacement vehicles would cost P11 million, the OVP said.
Aside from the buying office vehicles, Robredo also sought funding for her office's research initiatives. Some P69.2 million for research and development was pulled out from their 2020 budget and realigned for COVID-19 response under the Bayanihan Act.
"I think that's enough justification for us to reinstate the P45 million which was originally submitted to the DBM," Drilon said.
"Ibalik natin 'yan, ma'am. Ibalik natin...I'm sure the committee will look kindly upon your request," Angara also assured.
Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, an ally of the Vice President, expressed confidence that the funds will be put to good use, citing the Commission on Audit's "unqualified opinion" on the OVP and Robredo's track record.
"You know in government, if you see a functioning, working effective agency, you should give them more so that they will be even more effective," he said.
Senator Nancy Binay, who recalled the experience of her father, former vice president Jejomar Binay, also said she would support moves to increase the OVP's budget, as well as for giving the office a permanent building.
"At some point bigyan naman natin ng dignity 'yong Office of the Vice President," Binay said.
Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid also pledged backing for the OVP's budget requests.
"We are confident that with the proposed budget for OVP next year, we can further expand the work with our partners to contribute with our shared goals of defeating the virsu and improving the lives of our people," said Robredo.