The Partido Manggagawa (PM) is asking the Marcos
administration for solid justification as to why the government is spending a
hefty P22.9B for hosting the 29th ASEAN Summit while poor Filipinos live on P22
per meal per day and economic growth is sliding down dramatically to 2.1% in
the 3rd quarter.
“Congress just made sharp cuts on social spending for
the 2027 National Budget, including health and education, for no reason except
inadequate revenue streams, mounting debt service, and the funding of
congressional insertions for multipurpose halls and farm-to-ocean roads. With
BBM as current ASEAN Chair, is it prudent to spend P22.9-B for organizing an
event of this scale? Dapat ang ginawang bottom line ay pagtitipid kaysa
performative hosting,” stated PM Chair Renato Magtubo.
Magtubo also cautioned PBBM that his objective of
portraying himself as a good host to ASEAN members and the world might be
eclipsed by the presence of US President Donald Trump.
“Unfortunately, Trump is now the global icon of
disgrace, and he will utilize his presence in the ASEAN Summit as a face-saving
stunt. The ASEAN Summit doesn’t need a guest who is a war criminal whose proper
place is in the US impeachment court, or a jail term in the International
Criminal Court. Si Trump ay kahihiyan sa ASEAN,” stressed Magtubo.
“Mabuti na lamang at imbitado rin si newly elected
Brazilian President Lula Da Silva at may maari pang paghugutan ng politikal na
inspirasyon ang mamamayan ng ASEAN,” added Magtubo.
The labor leader explained further that ASEAN has been
business-as-usual since 1967, nothing less, nothing more. It operates under the
old foundational principle of consensus and non-interference, thus achieving no
binding rules and collective position on social issues such as human rights and
democracy as in the case of the Myanmar junta, dissolution and ban of a
political party in Thailand, and even the deadly war on drugs in the
Philippines during the previous administration.
“A moderate hosting of this event with a prudent
budget will not deny ASEAN a good host, as the Philippines has consistently
shown itself a reliable partner of ASEAN nations during the last 59 years,”
concluded Magtubo.
Partido Manggagawa
12 November 2026
