AUG 5, 2015

NR # 3917B

Sandigan, Ombudsman, COA, vary in their proposed budgets for 2016

The three government bodies at the forefront of restoring public trust in public institutions and
fighting corruption namely, the Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit (COA) and the
Sandiganbayan, vary in the status of their respective budgetary proposals for next year.
While the budgetary proposals of the Sandiganbayan and the COA are higher than their
budgets this year, the proposed allocation of the Office of the Ombudsman is lower than its funding
for this year.
Based on the proposed 2016 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the budget of the Office of
the Ombudsman is P1.775 billion, slightly lower than this years budget of P1.882 billion.
Of its proposed budget, the Office of the Ombudsman has allotted P1.509 billion for
personnel services, P253.183 million for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and
P21.4 million for capital outlays.
Meanwhile, the COA 2016 proposed budget is P9.134 billion, up from this years P8.510
billion budget, while the Sandiganbayan is seeking a budget of P505.904 million for next year, up
from this years P412.205 million allocation.
The COA has allotted P8.721 billion for personnel services, P338.67 for MOOE and P73.94
million for capital outlays.
The Sandiganbayan has earmarked P285.397 million for personnel services, P137.564 million
for MOOE and P82.943 million for capital outlays.
According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Office of the
Ombudsman is targeting to act on 20,064 complaints and prosecute 3,664 cases while the
Sandiganbayan shall handle 3,480 cases and dispose 418 cases.
In President Aquinos Budget Message to Congress, which was submitted last week by
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to the House of Representatives along with other five expenditure
books, the chief executive said the 2016 budget of the Office of the Ombudsman is a cumulative 68
percent increase from its P1.06 billion budget in 2010, enabling it to more vigorously prosecute
corruption cases.
As to the P505.9 million of the Sandiganbayan, the President said this would allow the special
court to adjudicate these cases expeditiously. This budget, which is 51 percent larger than in 2010,
will cover the creation of two more divisions to ease its case backlogs according to the President.
As to the COA proposed budget of P9.134 billion, the President said this is almost 140
percent more than its budget in 2010. It will bolster COAs auditing services, especially to conduct
special and fraud audits by leveraging technology and hiring more auditors, lawyers, and other
experts, said the President. (30) rbb