Asean Hosting on Hold? Senado Wants P17-B Question Answered First

Senate leaders are asking Malacañang to seriously study whether the Philippines should postpone hosting this year’s Asean Summit, matapos lumabas ang estimate that the job could cost more than P17 billion.

The push came after former Finance secretary Gary Teves said delaying the summit could free up funds that may instead be used to soften the economic hit from the ongoing Middle East war. He said the amount involved is too big to ignore while fuel and other pressures are building.

According to the report, the Philippines’ Asean chairmanship would require the country to host around 650 ministerial and senior officials’ meetings in several locations, including Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Laoag, Iloilo, Tagaytay, and Clark in Pampanga.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Executive department may want to consider the idea, while Senator Panfilo Lacson said the proposal deserves serious study and possible reconsideration. Pareho nilang punto: the government has to weigh the costs against current realities.

Teves also acknowledged that postponing the summit is not a simple call. He said the government still needs to examine the legal side and consult fellow Asean members first, since any reset would carry diplomatic implications beyond local budgeting concerns.

Source: The Manila Times