MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang assured on Friday that the government will spend less for Pope Francis' visit in January.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Vatican's call to keep to a minimum the expenditures for the papal vist will be taken into consideration in the crafting of the budget.
"We understand and we are very well-aware of the stand of His Holiness when it comes to simplicity," Valte said in a press briefing.
"Our budget for our visitors is always what is necessary," she added.
While the papal visit will be simple, Valte said the government will still take necessary precautions to ensure the pope's security.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines had said that the Vatican wanted the papal visit to be simple so that the savings to be generated can be spent for the rehabilitation of disaster-hit areas.
The pope will stay in the country from January 15 to 19, visiting Manila and Tacloban.