President Marcos and US President Joe Biden reaffirm the alliance between the Philippines and the United States during their meeting at the White House in Washington on May 1, 2023. (MALACAÑANG PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s request for a bigger travel fund next year is justified and necessary to market the Philippines as an investment destination, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said on Thursday.
Marcos had requested Congress to allocate P1.408 billion for local and foreign missions, as well as state visits for 2024.
“Kami po, hindi lang po ang Presidente, even the economic managers, if you notice po, we’ve been going out of the country to present the Philippines as an investment hub po. So I think yung expenses po ng travel, as long as it will be beneficial and mas may advantage po para sa bansa natin, I think okay lang po yun. It’s justified,” said Pangandaman in a Malacañang press briefing.
(The President, even the economic managers, if you will notice, we’ve been going out of the country to present the Philippines as an investment hub. So I think the travel expenses, if it will benefit the country, I think they are okay. It’s justified.)
Pangandaman also pointed out that the economic roadshows and visits bring home investment pledges, which the Department of Trade and Industry has disclosed previously.
It should be noted, however, that Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said that these investments are not yet guaranteed.
Asked how much was spent for Marcos’ previous trips, Pangandaman said that they are still unable to release those figures yet.
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) also got a boost in its proposed confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for Marcos’s foreign trips.
“For the PSG, that will cover the intelligence activities, usually during the out of country of the President, and that’s only an increase of P50 million,” said DBM Asec. Mary Anne Dela Vega in English and Filipino.