ES Ochoa presents OP budget for FY 2016 to Congress

Press Release
September 10, 2015

MALACANANG, Manila – Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. told the House of Representatives on Thursday that the Office of the President (OP) was increasing its spending plan for Fiscal Year 2016 by 10 percent due to higher funding requirement for personnel services and capital outlays.

Appearing before the House Committee on Appropriations, Ochoa presented the proposed P2.825 billion budget plan of the OP, up P258.0 million from the 2015 allocation of P2.567 billion.

Specifically, the proposed funding for OP’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) is higher by 2 percent, or P46.6 million, to P1.957 billion, from the current year’s appropriation.

The provision for Capital Outlay (CO), meanwhile, has been raised to P96.9 million, by 76.9 million, for 2016 to fund continuing improvements being undertaken within the OP facilities.

The proposed budget for Personnel Services (PS) is higher by 21 percent, or P134.67 million, to P771.67 million, compared to the previous spending package, in order to meet the actual salaries and other compensation benefits of all OP personnel as of December 31, 2014, including retirement and life insurance premiums.

When broken down to reflect the output and activities of the office, 71 percent of the P2.825-billion budget would be earmarked for operations, while 29 percent for general administration and support services, according to Ochoa.

The OP provides executive, technical and management services, advisory services, legal services and Presidential Executive Staff services to the President of the country in the exercise of his functions as head of state, chief executive and commander-in-chief.

Under Executive Order No. 292, the OP consists of the OP-Proper and bodies under the chairmanship of the President, other executive offices, and government-owned and -controlled corporations under it.