Aquino attendance at Asean Summit in Malaysia costs P11.8M

KUALA LUMPUR – President Benigno Aquino III’s attendance at the 26^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit here will cost the government P11.8 million.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the amount will cover transportation, accommodation, food, equipment and other requirements of Aquino and his 64-member delegation from April 26 to 28.

The opening of the summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur while the closing ceremony will be done at Langkawi, also in Malaysia.

“President Aquino’s participation to the 26th Asean Summit is important as the region gears toward the creation of an Asean Community, which is envisioned to provide new opportunities for the peoples of this region, including the Philippines,” Ochoa said.

Aquino arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday.

Joining him in the chartered flight were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Press Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Andrea Abad and Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria.

Other members of his delegation, like Secretaries Albert Del Rosario, Corazon Soliman and Gregory Domingo, arrived in Malaysia earlier.

Aquino’s two-day state visit to Malaysia last year cost P9 million. AC

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