ShareThisMANILA — Malacanang has abolished 10 offices under the Office of the President (OP), saying the move to streamline operations would save the government some P304.6 million.
Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr. said at the hearing of the appropriations committee of the House of Representatives on the proposed P4.075 billion budget of the OP for 2011, said the amount was 4.3 percent lower than this year’s outlay.
The 10 offices to be abolished are Mindanao Development Council, Office of the North Luzon Quadrangle Area, Office of External Affairs, Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), Minerals Development Council, Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG), Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region, Bicol River Basin Watershed Management Project, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on New Government Centers.
Ochoa said the abolition of the 10 offices was in support of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s efforts to streamline the operations of the Executive Department.
“Our philosophy is to streamline the operations of the Office of the President so we can cut unnecessary spending and use our resources where they are needed most,” he said.
“The President wants to lead by example. He cannot ask other agencies to cut costs if his own office is not prudent in the use of the people’s money,” he said.
Ochoa said some eight agencies under the OP will be retained. These are the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP), Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Presidential Visiting Forces Agreement Commission, Commission on Information and Communications Technology, EDSA People Power Commission, Commission on Maritime Affairs, the newly created Philippine Truth Commission, and the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
The Executive Secretary said some P50-million budget was allocated for the Truth Commission, which would be headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.
On the other hand, the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, headed by Secretary Ricky Carandang, will source its fund from the confidential and intelligence fund of the PAOCC, which was cut by P200 million for the purpose, he said