Office of the President cuts budget by P183 million

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the President has proposed a budget of P4.075 billion for next year, P183.9 million less than its current budget of P4.249 billion.                                                 

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. told a Senate hearing on its proposed budget that the office has also realigned P250 million of its P650-million intelligence fund for programs needed by agencies attached to it.                                                                                        

Ochoa did not specify the programs for which the P250 million would be aligned except for the renovation of the New Executive Building in Malacañang.

The Palace has decided to abolish 10 line agencies under the Office of the President found to be duplicating the functions of existing agencies.

These are the Mindanao Development Council, Office of the Northern Luzon Quadrangle Area, Office of External Affairs, Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, Minerals Development Council, Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region, Bicol River Basin Watershed Management Office, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on New Government Centers.             

The government expects to save P303.7 million a year with the abolition of the agencies.

Malacañang also reduced its maintenance and other operating expenditures from P2.646 billion to P2.318 billion.