House committee approves P8.18B OP budget without deliberation

The House appropriations committee approved the P8.182-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for 2022 without any deliberation.

Pangasinan Representative Tyrone Agabas moved to terminate the budget deliberations as a courtesy to a co-equal branch, a motion that was seconded and approved.

This year's budget is P4.05 million smaller than the OP's spending plan for 2021.

The approved budget includes P1.12 billion for personnel services, P6.49 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), and P547.97 million for capital outlays.

Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago objected to the termination, stating that traditions should not prevent scrutiny of the OP's budget.

Her objection was dismissed by panel vice chair Mannix Dalipe because she is not a member of the appropriations committee.

Lawmakers from the progressive Makabayan bloc expressed their displeasure, questioning why the committee was denying House members the right to scrutinize the budget.