Govt spends P6.7M for PNoy's attendance in ASEAN Summit

The Philippine government will be shelling out P6.7 million for President Benigno Aquino III’s participation in the 19th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Bali, Indonesia. In a press statement Thursday, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said the amount will cover expenses for hotel accommodations, food, transportation, telecommunications and equipment requirements. Aquino left Manila Thursday morning via a chartered flight and will return to the country on Saturday. In his pre-departure speech, Aquino cited the importance of the regional bloc, established in 1967, aimed at the “creation of a cohesive, peaceful, stable and resilient region". “Lilinangin pa po natin sa pulong na ito ang mayaman nang ugnayan ng mga bansa sa rehiyon; at sama-samang tutugunan ang mga problemang kinakaharap natin sa kasalukuyan," he said. Among the issues that will be discussed during the Summit are “migrant workers, trafficking in persons, maritime defense, and peace and security," Aquino said.

He added that the Summit would also provide a venue to further strengthen ties between dialogue partners China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, and America. “Susulitin natin ang mga oportunidad na ito upang plantsahin ang anumang gusot sa ating mga bansa, at upang patatagin pa ang ating samahan," Aquino said. “Sa pakikipagpulong natin sa kanila, paiigtingin po natin ang pagtutulungan natin sa larangan ng maritime security, disaster management, pagsugpo ng mga krimen at terorismo, pangangalaga sa kalikasan at pakikipagkalakal," he added. The President was accompanied by a 57-member delegation that included Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang. “The President will be participating in the plenary sessions and bilateral meetings, wherein he will underscore, among other issues, the importance of maintaining peace, stability, maritime safety and security in the West Philippine Sea," Ochoa said. Aquino is expected to witness, among others, the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management AHA Center by foreign ministers. The heads of states and governments of the 10-member regional bloc are likewise anticipated to forge the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in Global Community of Nations. President Aquino’s attendance to the ASEAN meeting is his third since he became the Chief Executive last year. His first was in Vietnam in November 2010 and then in Jakarta last May. Last May, Aquino presented during the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta the Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation (ZoPFFC) as a solution to territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea. Other members of ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. - Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News