OVP assures Robredo will have funds for projects

Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, who has been elected as the second highest-ranked leader of the nation, will not be inheriting a cash-strapped Office of the Vice President (OVP) 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 (It’s huge),” said Benjamin Martinez Jr., chief of staff (COS) of outgoing Vice President Jejomar Binay, when asked by reporters how much funds Robredo would still have at her disposal once she assumes the post on June 30.

“Put it this way, as of the end of May, we’ve only so far spent 178 million. The budget of the OVP (for 2016) is 1500 million,” Martinez said.

“Maybe another P10 million by the end of June. So definitely way, way below half (has been spent).”

This was bared to reporters at the Coconut Palace yesterday where the transition teams of Binay and Robredo held a one-hour, closed-door meeting. Located at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex in Manila, the Coconut Palace became the official residence of the Vice President during Binay’s term.

On the same day, Martinez handed over the OVP transition report to Boyet Dy, Robredo's incoming chief of staff.

Binay-Robredo to meet Asked if a one-on-one meeting has been set between Binay and Robredo, Martinez said one is already in the works.

“Yes they will meet. We just don't know exactly when. Maybe it's an informal meeting. But before we pitch the meeting to our principals, we the staff want to make sure that we've ironed out the details.

“Definitely before June 30. We don't want it very formal,” Martinez said.

OVP offices A sticking point during the transition meeting between the teams was where Robredo would actually hold office.

“Right now, as I think as she mentioned previously, her first preference is not to be in the Coconut Palace,” Dy said.

“Our priority now, given the time available to us, is to find a suitable location.”

Binay rents out the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)-owned to the tune of P484,000 a month.

The OVP also holds office at a portion of the Philippine National Bank (PNB) branch in Makati City. “All permanent employees are there, the administrative and finance departments,” Martinez said.

The monthly rent at the PNB office is 1312,000. Martinez said Binay pays for that, too.

The OVP is contracted to stay at Coconut Palace until February 2017, but Dy said this can be terminated once Robredo finds a suitable workplace.