Malacañang defends P22-B ASEAN budget, confident in audit

MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday defended the P22.9 billion budget for the country’s ASEAN hosting this year, as it expressed readiness to undergo an audit as proof of judicious and proper spending.

This comes in the wake of criticisms comparing the allocated budget of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration against the lower budgets for the hosting during the terms of former presidents Rodrigo Duterte and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which were reportedly at P3.79 billion and around P1 billion, respectively.

“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin na ito po ay nagasta na. At kung anuman at kung magkano man ang nagastos, iyan po ay amin namang iri-report,” Castro said in a briefing Thursday, November 12.

Castro argued that the high-level gathering entails thorough preparations for the security of world leaders and infrastructure development, among others.

She also noted that this year’s hosting comprises 550 meetings, compared with 279 meetings during the Philippines’ hosting in 2017.

“So, tama bang ikumpara kung magkano nagastos? Mas dapat nating tingnan ano iyong nasakop, ano iyong nagawa, ano iyong maaaring maging resulta nito kaysa sa ano iyong nagastos noon at kung ano iyong magagastos ngayon dahil ang Pangulo alam naman natin ang pondo ng bayan dapat ibalik sa taumbayan,” Castro stated.

“Handa ang gobyerno na ito ay ma-audit, handa ang gobyernong mag-report para ipakita sa inyo kung saan napunta lahat ang ating pinaghandaan bilang host ng ASEAN Summit,” she added.

The Palace official further argued that every peso to be spent counts as investment for the country’s future.

“Dapat mapanatili ng gobyernong ito ang paglaban sa korupsiyon kaya lahat pong itong magagastos ay para din po sa bawat Pilipino,” Castro said.

Castro also pushed back against Bayan President Renato Reyes’ statement that the “people are being made to suffer” because of Marcos Jr.’s “vanity” in supposedly covering up the nation’s problems and real state ahead of the summit.

“To suffer? Because of the vanity of the President? Bakit ang Pangulo ba ang nagpapaganda sa sarili niya? Ano ba ang pinapaganda natin hindi ba ang Pilipinas?” Castro said.

“Anong gusto nilang makita sa ating bansa, isang maduming bansa? Huwag ipahid kay Pangulo ang lahat ng mga pagbibintang nila nang walang anumang basehan,” she added.

Castro also argued that the barriers and tarpaulins placed in front of eateries and major roads along the routes of ASEAN delegates are part of “security” measures and an effort to showcase Filipino artistry.

Huge tarpaulins were placed along Diokno Boulevard, where food vendors were asked to temporarily halt operations for the summit.

“Parte ito ng seguridad… ito ay pagmamalaki na rin kung ano ang kakayahan ng mga kinikilala nating mga artist sa Pilipinas,” Castro said.