Malacañang on Thursday reported allocating over P11 million for President Aquino and his 48-member delegation’s two-day trip to South Korea for the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea (Asean-ROK) Commemorative Summit on December 11 and 12.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. confirmed that President Aquino flew to Busan on Wednesday morning on a chartered flight, bringing along Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Andrea Abad and Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria.
Ochoa said the P11.2-million allocation would be spent “for transportation, accommodation, food, equipment and other requirements” of Mr. Aquino and his entourage.
According to Ochoa, “President Aquino’s attendance to the 25th Asean-ROK Commemorative Summit is an occasion to fortify our country’s relationship with South Korea in various areas of cooperation such as trade and investment, development, labor and migration, tourism, among others.”
A Palace statement, quoting the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), said Mr. Aquino will deliver his country’s statement for this year’s summit theme, “Building Trust, Bringing Happiness.”
It added that President Aquino is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who is hosting a welcome dinner and cultural performance to officially welcome the Asean leaders.
The Palace noted that Republic of Korea (ROK)was formerly a sectoral dialogue partner of the Asean, but later became a full dialogue partner in 1991. The dialogue relations between the Asean and ROK were upgraded into a strategic partnership in 2010, it added.