Vice President
Jejomar C. Binay today asked Congress to remove the P200 million local projects
fund from the 2014 budget of the Office of the Vice President.
The Vice President
said he made the decision to end speculation and politicking on the true nature
of the fund. He said he hopes that this would assure our people that government
officials are sensitive to their sentiments and are committed to serve with
transparency and accountability.
Binay made the
request in a statement read by Usec. Benjamin Martinez Jr., Chief of Staff of
the OVP, during the Senate hearing for the OVP’s 2014 budget.
“Batid ko na may
mga proyektong maapektuhan ng desisyon kong ito, katulad ng mga college
scholarships sa mga mahihirap na estudyante, ang pagbibigay ng gamot at tulong
sa mga nangangailangan nating mga kababayan at ang pagtatayo ng gusali para sa
senior citizens,” Binay said.
“Alam ko na ito ay
maiintindihan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Binay said that
since he assumed office, the locally-funded projects of the OVP have all passed
the scrutiny of the Commission on Audit (COA).
“Hindi lamang
pasado ito sa COA, kundi pinapurihan pa kami, bilang pagkilala sa hayag
at masinop na paggamit ng aking tanggapan sa nasabing pondo, at ang benepisyo
na natatamasa ng ating mga kababayan,” Binay said.
“Nagdesisyon ako
kahit hindi pa man sinasabi ng kinauukulan kung ano ang katangian ng pondong
ito, para maiwasan ang ispekulasyon at pamumulitika sa usaping ito.
Umaasa ako na sa desisyong ito, muli nating maipararating sa ating mga
kababayan na tayong mga nasa gobyerno ay laging nakikinig sa kanila at handang
maglingkod ng tapat, hayag at may pananagutan,” he added.
With the removal of
the P200 million, the OVP’s budget is down to P217 million from the original
P417 million Binay’s office was requesting.
The Vice President
previously allocated part of the OVP’s P200-million fund for the construction
or repair of senior citizens’ center nationwide.
From 2011 to 2012,
the OVP bankrolled the construction or repair of 500 senior citizens’ centers.
Around 200 more are expected to be built this year.
Part of the fund
was also used for the Vice President’s scholarship grant-in-aid program.
The OVP currently
has 1,160 scholars in state colleges and universities nationwide and an
additional 180 beneficiaries from AMA Computer University/ACLAC/ABE, St. Jude
College & Medical Center, Manila Central University, Manila Business
College and University of Batangas.
A June 19 report of
the COA lauded the OVP’s social services programs including providing medical,
dental, burial, and transportation assistance to some 31,691 indigent
beneficiaries nationwide.
In the report,
state auditors likewise lauded Binay’s grant-in-aid scholarship program and
credited the Vice President for distributing school bags and school supplies to
15,975 beneficiaries as educational support.
Moreover, COA
hailed the OVP’s accounting unit for being awarded as one of the most outstanding
accounting offices among national government agencies in 2011 and 2012.
The OVP’s P200
million fund for locally-funded projects was given starting 2011 and originally
came from the unused Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of then Sen.
Benigno Aquino III. In 2012 and 2013 the amount was integrated into the OVP’s
regular budget.
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