11 SEPTEMBER 2013 REFERENCE: OVP MEDIA VP BINAY ASKS CONGRESS: REMOVE P200M OVP LOCAL PROJECTS FUND Vice President Jejomar C. Binay today asked Congress to remove the P200 million local projects fund from the 2014 budget of the Office of the Vice President. The Vice President said he made the decision to end speculation and politicking on the true nature of the fund. He said he hopes that this would assure our people that government officials are sensitive to their sentiments and are committed to serve with transparency and accountability. Binay made the request in a statement read by Usec. Benjamin Martinez Jr., Chief of Staff of the OVP, during the Senate hearing for the OVP’s 2014 budget. “Batid ko na may mga proyektong maapektuhan ng desisyon kong ito, katulad ng mga college scholarships sa mga mahihirap na estudyante, ang pagbibigay ng gamot at tulong sa mga nangangailangan nating mga kababayan at ang pagtatayo ng gusali para sa senior citizens,” Binay said. “Alam ko na ito ay maiintindihan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added. Binay said that since he assumed office, the locally-funded projects of the OVP have all passed the scrutiny of the Commission on Audit (COA). “Hindi lamang pasado ito sa COA, kundi pinapurihan pa kami, bilang pagkilala sa hayag at masinop na paggamit ng aking tanggapan sa nasabing pondo, at ang benepisyo na natatamasa ng ating mga kababayan,” Binay said. “Nagdesisyon ako kahit hindi pa man sinasabi ng kinauukulan kung ano ang katangian ng pondong ito, para maiwasan ang ispekulasyon at pamumulitika sa usaping ito. Umaasa ako na sa desisyong ito, muli nating maipararating sa ating mga kababayan na tayong mga nasa gobyerno ay laging nakikinig sa kanila at handang maglingkod ng tapat, hayag at may pananagutan,” he added. With the removal of the P200 million, the OVP’s budget is down to P217 million from the original P417 million Binay’s office was requesting. The Vice President previously allocated part of the OVP’s P200-million fund for the construction or repair of senior citizens’ center nationwide. From 2011 to 2012, the OVP bankrolled the construction or repair of 500 senior citizens’ centers. Around 200 more are expected to be built this year. Part of the fund was also used for the Vice President’s scholarship grant-in-aid program. The OVP currently has 1,160 scholars in state colleges and universities nationwide and an additional 180 beneficiaries from AMA Computer University/ACLAC/ABE, St. Jude College & Medical Center, Manila Central University, Manila Business College and University of Batangas. A June 19 report of the COA lauded the OVP’s social services programs including providing medical, dental, burial, and transportation assistance to some 31,691 indigent beneficiaries nationwide. In the report, state auditors likewise lauded Binay’s grant-in-aid scholarship program and credited the Vice President for distributing school bags and school supplies to 15,975 beneficiaries as educational support. Moreover, COA hailed the OVP’s accounting unit for being awarded as one of the most outstanding accounting offices among national government agencies in 2011 and 2012. The OVP’s P200 million fund for locally-funded projects was given starting 2011 and originally came from the unused Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of then Sen. Benigno Aquino III. In 2012 and 2013 the amount was integrated into the OVP’s regular budget.
Posted on: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 00:31:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015