ITEMIZE AND JUSTIFY P9.8-B APEC BUDGET!

Nov. 12. 2015

Before we all forget, the PNoy Government has to ITEMIZE AND JUSTIFY the P9.8 billion budget for the year-long Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. Especially considering the fact that head organizer Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. ADMTTED that PNoy himself has ordered that NOTHING will be built for the event, which translated to hundreds of millions in savings on construction costs.

Since public funds have been spent on, and will be spent until the end of the APEC meetings, the people have all the right to know what is the P9.8 billion for. I AM NOT against the APEC meetings. I fully realize its value and potential benefits. But with scores of ‘Yolanda’ victims still without homes, hunger on the rise and street people almost everywhere,  the people have all the right to know if the expenses are indeed necessary and reasonable, or PATHETIC ‘KAYABANGAN’ by PNoy’s Government. Among others, the people must know what items or services have been bought or paid for, now much and for what. And what else are the forthcoming expenditures, for what and how much.

Think about these, people:  Organizers say at least 47 meetings shall have been held before the 21 heads of state of APEC member countries hold the final round of the event from Nov. 13-19. Since more meetings will be held during that period, let’s just say the grand total will be 150. Even if each meeting will cost as much as P10 million, that will only be P1.5 billion. For accomodations I agree that the best of the best, regardless of how much, must be given to the 21 heads of state and their wives. But there will be nothing wrong if their support staff and security escorts will stay in less expensive rooms or hotels. So let’s say that each of the 21 heads of state and his delegation will number 100 people. That will be 2,100 people all in all. If the PNoy Government spends as much as P3 million a day for every delegation, that will be P63 million daily or P441 million from Nov. 13 to 19. Add P1.5 billion to P441 million and you get P1.991 billion, still leaving almost P8 BILLION of the budget.

These are just sample figures, people. I don’t have the exact details but I will dare say that what I’ve cited is realistic enough. We’re talking of BILLIONS here, not just millions or hundreds of millions, of the PEOPLE’S MONEY. We have the right to know if all the transactions for the APEC meet were carried out LEGALLY, without any anomaly whatsoever, and NOT OVERPRICED, or grossly overpriced.  

If there’s nothing to ide, then there should be no problem coming out with records and details. 30