House panel OKs 2019 budget for Office of the President in less than 10 minutes

In less than 10 minutes, the House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday approved the proposed P6.77-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for next year.

The OP's proposed 2019 budget is 12.32 percent higher than its P6 billion appropriation this year.

During the budget briefing, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman moved to approve the OP's budget on the committee level after it was presented.

"Consistent with the tradition, I move for the termination of the hearing of the proposed budget of the Office of the President without prejudice, however, to interpellations during the plenary consideration," Lagman said.

Deputy Speaker Prospero Pichay seconded the motion.

NOW: House Appropriations Committee deliberates P6.7-billion budget of the Office of the President. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/sJmRcogl04

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) August 29, 2018

With no objection from legislators, House panel chair Karlo Nograles said the motion was approved.

The breakdown for the proposed 2019 budget of the OP is as follows:

• Personal Services: P1,078,204,000
• Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses: P5,184,072,000
• Capital Outlay: P511,663,000

Last year's deliberation for the 2018 budget of the OP was approved by the House panel in only two minutes. —KG, GMA News