House spent P2.7 B for salaries, other expenses in 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives spent over P2.7 billion for salaries and other expenses in 2011, including for travel, communications and office supplies of lawmakers.

According to a published list of expenses for 2011, the House spent P2,752,603.841 in 2011 for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).

The publication came weeks after leaders of the House and the Senate reportedly agreed to be more transparent in their disbursements following the controversy involving Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s release of MOOE funds to employees and colleagues.

Enrile drew criticism for his perceived bias against four senators  – Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Antonio Trillanes IV and siblings Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano – to whom he allocated lesser amounts allegedly in retaliation for their criticisms and reported plot to oust him.

A total of P289,793,368 million was disbursed for salaries of each of the 287 House members, including P5,352.145 million for lawmakers who head congressional committees.

But the biggest allocation was for the salaries of staff of the central office at P869.48 million.

Some P11.3 million was spent on foreign travels while P230.6 million was disbursed for local travel for consultations.

Nearly P288 million was released for staff of congressional district offices while P157.6 was disbursed for contractual workers.

Research expenses accounted for P153.4 million while P54 million was paid out for communications outlays.

Supplies took up P51.34 million while expenses for equipment and fixtures reached P18.8 million.

Lawmakers also used their public affairs fund totaling P142.2 million and other MOOE took up P486.1 million.