Robredo says VP office underspending in 2016 due to election period ban

VICE PRESIDENT Maria Leonor G. Robredo, who took position on July 1 last year after the May plebiscite, attributed the underspending of her office in 2016 to the ban on the use of public funds during election season. The Commission on Audit (CoA) earlier flagged the underspending of the Office of the Vice-President (OVP), as it only used 59.42% of its appropriated budget for financial assistance to indigent Filipinos. “’Pag panahon ng eleksyon, maraming bawal na mag-release ng pera. Kaya ’yung between February and May, medyo nag-slow down ’yung paggastos (During election season, release of funds are not allowed. That’s why between February and May, the spending slowed down),” said Ms. Robredo in her radio show BISErbisyong Leni on Sunday morning. CoA did cite in its report that P93.8 million out of the P130.69 million utilized for the full year 2016 was spent during the July to December period. Ms. Robredo’s predecessor was Jejomar C. Binay. — Raynan F. Javil