Noy defends P12-M Korea trip while Visayas deals with quake aftermath

MANILA, Philippines - The government has allocated P12 million for the two-day state visit of President Benigno Aquino III to South Korea.

An article posted on the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) website said the budget covers transportation, accommodation, food and equipment requirements for the President and his 60-member official delegation.

Aquino left this morning for Seoul via a chartered flight and was accompanied by Senate President Franklin Drilon and several members of his Cabinet, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

The President still pushed through with his trip today while rescue efforts are still ongoing in Cebu and Bohol, which was hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that killed over a hundred people.

Aquino justified his trip amid the earthquake devastation, saying he already went to Bohol and Cebu on Wednesday. He added that members of his Cabinet were also left in both provinces.

"May mga nagtanong po kung dapat tayo tumuloy matapos ng nangyari na lindol sa Kabisayaan. Ang sagot po natin dito: Habang inaasikaso nga ho ang kasalukuyan, dapat naman ho siguro huwag natin pabayaan ang kinabukasan," Aquino said in his departure statement.

The President’s trip to Seoul is on the invitation of Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye.

Aquino is expected to tackle several issues with Park, including those related to politics, defense, labor, trade and development assistance.

He is also expected to meet members of the Korean business committee to boost business relations and tourism. -Louis Bacani