PNoy's trip to China will cost P25M
By Angelo Abuda
@aabuda (1722)
Philippines
August 30, 2011 2:13am CST
President Benigno Aquino's five-day state visit to China will cost P25 million, according to Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
“The primary objective of the President’s visit is to further strengthen bilateral ties between the Philippines and China, especially in the aspect of trade and commerce,” Ochoa said.
In your own opinion, is it worth to spend such big amount in order to further strengthen the relationships between the two countries?
I think the President is against lavish spending in the government and that he is one of the many who pushes for the investigation of the alleged corruption and the lavished spending of the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is he not following already what the former administration did?
9 responses
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
30 Aug 11
China is asserting its power right now, and the US is being threatened... Any diplomatic, bilateral understanding with China will always be for the good of our country. We are the David facing Goliath. That 25 million is equivalent to our 5 stone sling armament. The President better take the shot well and precise...
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
31 Aug 11
China should have been our Primary ally from the start. I mean, who would stick to us if United States falls apart. we have to keep our communication with China constant so that we won't be able to face another conflict with our Asian neighbors.
It's not supposed to be David facing Goliath because we are he same blood as the chinese.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
30 Aug 11
"David facing Goliath" friend could mean inevitable agression towards each other. let's just say " we will be like Laurel and Hardy"
1 person likes this
@greenpeas (998)
• Philippines
30 Aug 11
If the result of the visit will be billions of pesos in financial benefits because of better trading deals and businesses then 25 million pesos is just spare change. I think it was actually one of the cheapest and I trust PNoy when it comes to handling my money.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
30 Aug 11
me too, I third, but wait, maybe we can secure a non-aggression pact
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
31 Aug 11
Hello Aabuda, I've been really thinking about it. China has been a trader to us long before the American Colonization times and they NEVER in their lives thought about invading the Philippines and despite of the sour relationship that shouldn't have happened. I think we should do our best to move on and communicate with China since they're are Co-Asian Neighbors and we are no different from them, we got Filipino CHinese for petes sake!
I commend on him spending less is the kind of leader who cares about saving for the benefit of the people rather than using it to spend more.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
31 Aug 11
I think the palace is well aware of he lavish spending of GMA's own state visits and the least they would want is to be likened to her. It has also been explained that it's a small price to pay from what this country has to gain as a result of the visit. For me 25 million is a lot of money but it's too early to tell if it's not worth every penny since the visit is not yet through. As long as the money is accounted for and where it is being used is clearly disclosed then I have no reason to suspect. Let's wait until the president comes back and hear what he has to tell us.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
31 Aug 11
I checked the web and here's what I found what PDI,
"If government expectations from the trip are met, the P25 million allotted for the trip will be a well-spent amount.
The Philippines and China are expected to agree on a five-year economic development plan seeking to boost two-way trade six-fold, to about $60 billion.
The budget covers expenses for the special commercial flight, hotel accommodations, food, transportation, telecommunications, equipment requirements and items, during the three-leg state visit, according to Ochoa.
Assistant Foreign Secretary Cristina Ortega said at an earlier news briefing in Malacañang that the trip alone was expected to generate at least $1.5 billion in initial investments. Trade Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio said Tuesday night the visit could generate investments worth between $2 billion and $7 billion.
“We will work hard. I think it can be done,” Ortega said of the five-year development agreement’s expected yield for the country’s economy.
Most of it will be Chinese investments in manufacturing, railways, shipyards, mining and tourism as the Philippine economy continues to grow and the Aquino administration seeks funds to increase spending on social services to reduce poverty."
If everything turn our as expected, that's a lot of money for the Philippines.
@magtibaygom (4858)
• Philippines
30 Aug 11
With our present president, that trip is justified. He has no spouse like Mike Arroyo, no money-hungry sons, and no cash-sucking friends like the Arroyos. So, anything that is worth spending with our president, then let it be.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
30 Aug 11
25 million pesos is just approximately 581,000 dollars plus, I think it's a very small price we have to pay in order to fix problems with our large Asian friend and neighbor China, previous administrations spent much more including a 1 million peso dinner in New Yorkand got us nothing except a botched ZTE deal that would had cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Let's give our president a chance, it's a small price if we have to diffuse tension and doubt and exchange it with trade and business that would benefit all of us, let's give it a chance, remember Pnoy has Chinese ancestry like most of us, no price is too high if we are talking about peace and stability in the region
and got us nothing except a botched ZTE deal that would had cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Let's give our president a chance, it's a small price if we have to diffuse tension and doubt and exchange it with trade and business that would benefit all of us, let's give it a chance, remember Pnoy has Chinese ancestry like most of us, no price is too high if we are talking about peace and stability in the region
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
30 Aug 11
It depends on how each Filipino views this visit. It's like a business between countries - you can't earn if you don't spend. If the present administration can justify the expense to the results of the visit, I think many people will not complain about the cost. If they cannot, it certainly needs to be looked into.
I think the current president knows that he is treading on very thin ice and the ghosts of the past administration still haunts us. He knows that his every move is being watched by critics and the whole nation. If he does spend that much, he better have a good excuse and reason to do such thing.
@asiacevillar (643)
• Philippines
30 Aug 11
the budget for that state visit is damn too colossal amount of money but I think it's just right to spend for that after all, because it's still something of an investment for our country. China is a vital economic partner of our country and if our relationship with them becomes sour, the same thing will happen to our economy. We have to assent with the plan because it's for the good and for the betterment of our country.
What's the fallacious thing here is if that large amount of money is going to fall on the pockets of the concerned subjects, or used for their own personal interests.
@AgentGulaman (3546)
• Philippines
30 Aug 11
Well, the trip is for a worthy cause. I think taking that step to do business with China is always something to look forward to. I think that the amount is big due to the number of delegates that we have. I believe that the businessmen of our land and owner of big corporations in here are part of the meeting. With this development going on, I believe that the amount to be invested for the trip is well worth the cost. I am really looking forward for the developments of this visit. If things go well, it will surely strengthen the Philippine economy and also strengthen our ties with China. Why not shed out and risk that big money for something which is helpful and good for the long term. Also, this is just a few of the spending of the government. Our government today limited budgets and spending in different areas, so this one should be something since the government decided to spend much in here.
