Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 4) — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday said he sees no problem in the 58% increase in the allocation for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trips under the proposed 2024 national budget as his official travels in the past year have evidently benefited the country.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Gatchalian told CNN Philippines’ The Source the ₱1.408 billion proposed budget for overseas and local travels of the president is justifiable as his trips abroad since he took office have translated to a 120% increase in the number of investment pledges.
“Based on the news reports that I read, the trips are not very long, typically 2 days, 3 days packed with meetings and the template there is to meet with the head of state, OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), and investors… There is a direction in the trips, it’s not vacation,” Gatchalian said.
This strategy of Marcos personally going to potential investors is a unique approach when compared to the past administrations, the senator added.
While these are bearing fruit, the next question will be when these will come in and the follow through of these pledges, Gatchalian said. This will be a different story because investors will now have to deal with relevant government agencies to implement their proposals, he noted.
Gatchalian also said he does not see any problem with the proposed budget for confidential and intelligence funds, noting there are legitimate uses for these.
The Marcos administration is looking to secure some ₱10.14 billion in confidential and intelligence funds for next year, higher than earlier reported by the budget chief.
