Palace defends P23-B ASEAN Summit budget

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Malacañang on Friday said the government wants to avoid a repeat of the criticism it faced over the Philippines' preparations for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games as it hosts the 49th ASEAN Summit.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement as she defended the P22.9 billion budget for the Philippines’ hosting of the event.

“Tandaan natin noong nagkaroon dito at dito idinaos yung 2019 SEA Games, hindi ba hindi masyadong, lumalabas na hindi ganun kaprepara,” Castro told GMA News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(Let’s remember when the 2019 SEA Games were held here, wasn’t it not very good, it turned out that they weren’t that prepared.)

“Tayo ay naibalita sa buong mundo na bakit ganito lang ang pag-prepare ng Pilipinas sa panahon ni Pangulong Duterte sa SEA Games. Ayaw maranasan ng gobyerno yan dahil dapat prepared tayo,” she added.

(We have been reported all over the world why the Philippines' preparation was only this during President Duterte’s time for the SEA Games. The government doesn’t want to experience that because we should be prepared.)

Budget, barriers

Castro also clarified that the P22.9 billion budget for the Philippines' hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit covers the country's entire year-long hosting of the regional bloc and not just the November gathering.

She pointed out that the amount is an allocated budget and does not mean the government has already spent the entire sum.

According to Castro, 393 meetings have already been held, with another 164 meetings scheduled.

The budget also covers preparations beyond the meetings themselves including improvements to venues and facilities, security measures, personnel deployment, and airport upgrades.

Castro also defended the installation of barriers displaying artworks by National Artists along Diokno Boulevard amid criticism that these appeared to conceal poverty ahead of the ASEAN Summit.

She said the government wanted to showcase the country's beauty to foreign visitors and urged critics to cooperate instead of undermining the Philippines' image. She added that the government should use the occasion to uplift the country's image rather than bring it down.

Castro also acknowledged that poverty should not be concealed, saying it was a reality in the Philippines and other countries as well.

"Hindi naman talaga natin dapat takpan ang kahirapan. Reality 'yan," she said.

(We really shouldn't cover up poverty. That's reality.) —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA News