Kusug Tausug party-list solon wants permanent OVP office

A lawmaker has proposed the establishment of a permanent office for the Vice President of the country.

Kusug Tausug party-list Representative Shernee Tan-Tambut made the proposal under her House Bill 2698, saying a permanent office for the second highest ranked public official will be beneficial to the government  in the long run due to rising cost of rental and other services.

"Being the second highest elected public official of the land, the Vice President needs a presentable official residence where he or she can meet official visitors like public officials, foreign dignitaries or even common people needing assistance," Tan-Tambut said in her explanatory note on the measure.

Tan-Tambut also cited that the Vice President of the United States has been using the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., as official residence since 1974, while the official residence of India's Vice President is in Uparashtrapati Bhawan.

The official residence of Indonesia's Vice President, on the other hand, is Rumah Dinas Wakil Presiden.

"The foregoing reasons warrant the immediate approval of this important legislative measure," Tan-Tambut added.

The last three Vice Presidents preceding Vice President Sara Duterte resided in three different areas.

Then-Vice President Noli de Castro held office in PNB Building in Pasay City from 2004 to 2010, while ex-Vice President Jejomar Binay used the Coconut Palace in Pasay as his office from 2010 to 2016.

Former Vice President Leni Robredo, for her part, held office in Quezon City Reception House in New Manila, Quezon City.

Vice President Duterte, who also serves as Education Secretary, is holding office in Mandaluyong City. — RSJ, GMA News