Gov’t spending P15.5 B for Asean summit

The government is spending P15.5 billion (about $310 million) for activities related to the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), highlighted by the leaders’ summit today.

The huge amount is included in the equally humongous budget for this year of the Office of the President (OP), which amounts to P20.2 billion or more than 600 percent than the last outlay of P2.8 billion of former president Benigno Aquino III.

According to opposition congressmen, the Duterte administration is spending a far bigger amount for ASEAN events than what the Aquino government spent for the larger AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit the country hosted in 2015.

APEC is composed of 21 economies: Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United States and Vietnam.

In contrast, 10 countries comprise ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Brunei.

Both the ASEAN and APEC leaders’ summits are annual events preceded by various activities and conferences involving lower-level officials. Based on reports, the previous administration spent P10 billion for the APEC summit held here in 2015.

ASEAN holds two summits every year. The first is usually in April with only the ASEAN leaders while the second is in November with the dialogue partners – China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand, Russia, United States, Australia, Canada and European Union. It also holds summits with the United Nations and other side events.

Of the P15.5-billion ASEAN budget, P11.5 billion is allocated for President Duterte’s office, P2 billion for the Department of the Interior and Local Government, P1.5 billion for the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), P749.6 million for the Department of Tourism, and P177.7 million for the Department of Trade and Industry.

There is no amount allotted for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which presumably has its own funds for ASEANrelated expenses.

The P1.5 billion for ASEAN-related activities allocated for PCOO is P300 million more than its P1.2billion budget for this year.

Sources said many personnel of the agencies involved in ASEAN have used funds vacationing in Boracay, Cebu, Davao, Palawan and Cagayan de Oro City in the guise of helping ASEAN visitors or participating in meetings.

Part of the P11.5 billion allotted for the OP will allow the President to lavishly entertain his ASEAN guests. Duterte has P7.6 billion for representation and entertainment expenses.

In contrast, Aquino had P118.2 million for the same purpose in 2015. The OP budget then amounted to P2.6 billion only.

When the House of Representatives committee on appropriations was considering the P20.2-billion OP budget, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice and other opposition congressmen asked why the ASEAN funding was included in Duterte’s outlay and not that of the DFA.