Small budget for P-Noy's trip

MANILA, Philippines - The government is spending a measly P4.2 million for President Aquino’s trip to Jakarta to attend the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit from May 7 to 8.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the P4.2 million covers expenses for hotel accommodations, food, transportation, telecommunications and equipment requirements, among others, excluding air fares.

“Consistent with the President’s previous official foreign trips, every effort was made to keep expenses to the minimum,” Ochoa said.

The President will be accompanied by a 54-man delegation including Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras.

Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, Mindanao Development Authority chair Luwalhati Antonino, DFA Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio, Chief Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant Miguel Perez-Rubio, Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Ramon Vicente Kabigting, and DFA Assistant Secretary Victoria Bataclan are also part of the President’s delegation.

“The President will be participating in the plenary sessions and bilateral meetings to pursue initiatives on human rights, disaster risk reduction, protection of migrant workers, peace and security, and environment, as well as the realization of the Millennium Development Goals,” Ochoa said.

The ASEAN Summit is a yearly meeting of the heads of state and government of the regional bloc composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

This will be the second time the President is attending the event. The first was in Hanoi, Vietnam in November 2010.