According to President’s office seeks ‘modest increase’ in budget for 2024 | Inquirer News, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said on October 11 that the Office of the President (OP) is requesting a little increase in its suggested allocation for 2024.
During discussions of the planned 2024 allocation for the Office of the President by the Senate committee on finance, Bersamin provided an explanation of the rationale for this request.
According to him, the Office of the President is requesting a little increase, but at a pace consistent with prior fiscal years.
He pointed out that the President now has a way to do state business in person thanks to the removal of the pandemic limitations. He gave the explanations for why there are more meetings and public appearances by the President these days.
There are more meetings of the Cabinet. According to President’s office seeks ‘modest increase’ in budget for 2024 | Inquirer News, the Malacañang consultations had becoming increasingly frequent and steady. The President informed the senators that his itinerary and call sheets were packed.
The budget modification that the OP is requesting, according to Bersamin, will also consider the logistical requirements of accepting invitations from foreign leaders to visit their nations.
Since these initiatives result in investments that create jobs, he thinks the country will benefit from the diplomatic invitations and that the post-pandemic economic recovery will go more quickly.
According to President’s office seeks ‘modest increase’ in budget for 2024 | Inquirer News, P10.7 billion in funding is being requested by Marcos' administration for the next fiscal year.
Upon cursory examination, the OP's plan allocates 72% of its budget to Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).
The capital outlays will account for sixteen percent. Twelve percent will go for personal services, such as pensions and premiums for life insurance and retirement plans (RLIP).
Senator Sonny Angara, who is the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee informed reporters in an ambush interview following the panel's hearing that the OP's budget request is a few hundred million more expensive than the MOOE.
When asked what will be the use of the MOOE monies, according to President’s office seeks ‘modest increase’ in budget for 2024 | Inquirer News, Angara said anything that needs upkeep. Pay is not the issue. He distinguished it from the building of structures or the acquisition of machinery. According to him, anything outside of that is MOOE.
