Gov’t Earmarks P11.6-M for Pres. Aquino’s Visit to Singapore

Manila —  The government has set aside P11.6 million for President Benigno S. Aquino III’s participation in The Economist’s World in 2015 conference in Singapore from November 18 to 19, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Tuesday.

President Aquino left this morning via a chartered flight to Singapore, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Andrea Abad, Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), President Aquino will be the keynote speaker at The World in Gala Dinner tonight. He is the first Philippine leader to speak in this global forum since the influential magazine The Economist started organizing the conference series in 2009.

“This is a significant opportunity for our President to share his administration’s plans and reform programs towards sustainable economic and inclusive growth, as well as the peace process for Mindanao,” Ochoa said.

Other highlights of President Aquino’s working visit to Singapore are his meetings with President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The amount allocated for the trip covers expenses for transportation, accommodation, food, equipment and other requirements of the Chief Executive and his 54-member delegation. (OES)

Photo above: President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., reviews the honor guards during the send-off ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal II on Tuesday (November 18) for his 2-day working visit to Singapore. The President is a keynote speaker during “The World in 2015 Gala Dinner” by The Economist. Aside from a series of corporate business group meetings, he is also scheduled to participate in a roundtable discussion with top business executives from the Singapore Business Federation and foreign chambers. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau)