Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 9) – The House of Representatives saw a budget surplus of ₱4.69 billion in its 2022 allocations, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.
It is an increase of ₱2.05 billion, or around 78%, compared with the excess funds in 2021 of ₱2.64 billion, according to the audit report on the chamber published July 6.
A statement from the Office of Speaker Martin Romualdez on Sunday said the chamber reduced its spending. The largest cut was seen in its acquisition of professional services – from ₱975.86 million to ₱715.08 million. The House reduced the number of its legislative consultants from 3,092 in 2021 to 2,588 in 2022.
The chamber also cut its spending on supplies and materials, utilities, communications, and professional services from a total of ₱1.45 billion in 2021 to ₱1.13 billion in 2022.
The COA also said that the Net Financial Assistance/Subsidy of the House increased by ₱2.99 billion, from ₱18.88 billion in 2021 to ₱21.87 billion in 2022. This largely contributed to the higher surplus.
Despite the greater excess, the chamber’s operating expenses went from ₱16.25 billion in 2021 to ₱17.18 billion in 2022, an increase of ₱931 million. This includes Personnel Services (PS), Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), Financial Expenses, and Non-Cash Expenses.
PS went from ₱4.8 billion in 2021 to ₱4.86 billion in 2022 as a result of wage hikes mandated by the Salary Standardization Law.
MOOE increased from ₱11.26 billion in 2021 to ₱12.13 billion last year due to increased travel and gatherings following loosened COVID-19 restrictions, the speaker’s office noted.
Meanwhile, the chamber’s revenue fell by ₱1.4 million – from ₱2.4 million in 2021 to just ₱994,934.34 last year.
Under the 2022 General Appropriations Act, the House of Representatives was allocated ₱21.57 billion. It received additional automatic appropriations worth ₱396 million and continuing appropriations worth ₱686 million for a total allotment of ₱22.65 billion, the COA said.
