MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 22, 2012) – A Filipino migrant’s rights group has questioned the huge expenses for President Benigno Aquino and delegation for his state visits in Australia and New Zealand.
“President Aquino, please explain to us why you need to bring along with you over 90 delegates on your state visits to Australia and New Zealand that would cost multi-millions of Filipino taxpayers money? Who are these people traveling with you besides your 7 Cabinet members? What will they be doing here?” asked Dennis Maga, Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand National Coordinator, in light of the reported P44 million budget for Aquino’s state visits.
“This massive spending for unnecessarily giant delegation is a gross act of corruption and total insensitivity amid recent reports of growing malnutrition and poverty of Filipinos,” Maga added.
Earlier Migrante Sectoral Party – New Zealand also scored Aquino for issuing Administrative Order 31 last October 1 which allows for the increase of all government fees.
“AO-31 is the last thing Filipinos need on top of incessant price hikes of basic commodities and services in the Philippines. Imposing additional fees through AO-31 would spell more hardships and indebtedness for Overseas Filipinos,” Francisco Mangulabnan, Coordinator of MSP-Zealand, said.
“It is outrageous that the Office of the President is spending millions of taxpayers’ money while his bosses, the millions of poor Filipinos can hardly get three decent meals a day. President Aquino must cease from imposing further economic burdens through AO-31 and other means,” Maga said.
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