President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received an increase in his travel funds for local and foreign trips for next year amounting to P1.4 billion, according to the recently signed Republic Act No. 11975 or General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024.
The presidential travel fund next year is 58 percent higher than this year’s P895 million budget.
President Marcos flew out of the country 11 times and traveled to nine countries for 2023. Since assuming office in June 2022, Mr. Marcos has recorded a total of 19 foreign trips.
For 2023, the President visited China, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia, while Mr. Marcos traveled to the United States, Japan, and Indonesia twice this year.
His most recent foreign trip was to Japan for the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit earlier this month.
The Chief Executive also has one canceled trip, when he was supposed to participate in the 28th United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai before calling it off last minute due to developments in the hostage situation involving 17 Filipino seafarers.
President Marcos is set to fly to Vietnam in January to cap off the five-year Plan of Action and boost the ties between the two countries.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil previously noted that the increase in the proposed budget for the President’s travels is aimed at elevating the nation’s attractiveness to potential investors.
