The government’s almost ₱22.9-billion allocation for the Philippines’ ASEAN hosting has drawn public scrutiny, with Filipinos questioning the scale of the preparations as communities continue to face concerns over poverty, livelihood disruptions, and the approaching El Niño.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro defended the preparations, rejecting claims that the improvements were driven by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vanity. She said the work was intended to present the Philippines as a capable host and a country where foreign investors could place their confidence. Castro added that the government was prepared to have the summit expenses audited and report how the funds were used, stressing that every peso spent was an investment in the country and Filipino workers.
The ₱22.9-billion figure covers the Philippines’ broader 2026 ASEAN chairship and related activities, including the earlier summit in Cebu and the November gathering in Metro Manila—not solely beautification projects. However, the spending has prompted questions about how the hosting costs translate into benefits for ordinary Filipinos. Labor group Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) previously raised concerns over the impact of summit preparations on workers, particularly vendors who were temporarily ordered to stop operating. Cash assistance was extended to 84 vendors in Pasay City and around 1,500 vendors in Parañaque City.
Online reactions have also reflected calls for greater transparency and questions about government priorities. Zyanne Padal shared the comparison, “For visitors, willing to spend around 20 billion. For fellow Filipinos, 96 pesos is enough.” Ronald Allan Cruz called for supporting documents, commenting, “Resibo!” Daniel Rommel Lagon described the preparations as “P23-B worth of band aid!” Mommyy Di also questioned the contrast between summit spending and preparations for El Niño, posting, “Ang budget sa ASEAN 23 BILLION PHP pero ang preparation for SUPER EL NIÑO drum na may diy filter.” Queenie Gibe and Robert Gustilo likewise raised concerns about the conditions ordinary Filipinos continue to face.