On the President’s Travel Funds for 2024

Photo Courtesy: Presidential Communications Office

Arguably, the president is still the best salesperson of any country. The foreign affairs secretary and the members of the economic Cabinet cluster come only as second or third.

That being said, pledges are not investments until the actual money inflows happen. That is the only time when Malacañang can flaunt the impact of the foreign trips of the president. Then, we celebrate and count the cost-effectiveness of those foreign trips.

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On the Lifting of the Suspension of Non-Essential Travel by Filipinos

As long as conditions are complied with and protocols are strictly observed, particularly on quarantine procedures upon their return to the country, I can see no problem with the lifting of the suspension on non-essential travel by Filipinos.

That said, however, I do not see this encouraging Filipinos to travel. Who would be encouraged to travel in the middle of a worldwide pandemic?

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