Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo won’t be inheriting a cash-strapped Office of the Vice President by the end of June.
In fact, the vice president-elect will be left with a good chunk of change which she could use to bankroll her advertised poverty-alleviation projects.
“Malaki,” said Benjamin Martinez Jr., chief of staff of outgoing Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.
“Put it this way, as of the end of May, we’ve only so far spent R78 million. The budget of the OVP (for 2016) is R500 million,” Martinez said.
“Maybe another P10 million by the end of June. So definitely way, way below half (has been spent).”
The transition teams of Binay and Robredo held a one-hour, closed-door meeting at the Coconut Palace at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City.
The Coconut Palace became the official residence of the Vice President during Binay’s term.
Martinez handed over the OVP transition report to Boyet Dy, Robredo’s incoming chief of staff.
The report said that the OVP only used P78,683,832 from its 2016 budget as of May 31.
“I think they will be happy that they still have a lot of funds to spend in terms of their programs,” Martinez said.
Binay, chairperson of the United Nationalist Alliance, ran and lost for president in the elections last month.
He has reported in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures that he spent P463.3 million in his campaign. (Ellson A. Quismorio)