BY REGINA BENGCO
PRESIDENT Arroyo is leaving for Hong Kong
on Sunday to attend the Asian Investment Conference and meet
with the Filipino community.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Arroyo
and her delegation will be back on Tuesday.
Bunye said the President will meet the
Filipino community Sunday evening to tell them about the
country’s economic growth and about the hedging facilities put
up by the government to protect their earnings from the
currency fluctuations.
She will also ask them to invest their
earnings in tourism, agriculture and real property.
On Monday, Arroyo will speak before the
Asian Investment Conference and hold roundtable discussions
with fund managers and foreign businessmen.
Overseas workers belonging to the Gloria
Step Down Movement Thursday picketed the Philippine
consulate-general in Hong Kong denouncing the "lavish" visit
of Arroyo amid a festering rice crisis.
GSDM-Hong Kong leader Eman Villanueva said
that Arroyo will spend more than P1 million for her March 30
appearance before OFWs at the posh Grand Hyatt Hotel.
"Another million will be spent for the
remaining days," said Villanueva.
"Based on inquiries at the Grand Hyatt
Hotel, the cost of the hotel’s facilities to be used by the
President are about $11,600 for the use of Tiffin Lounge;
$18,000 for the function room; and $141 per person who will
dine with Arroyo," said Villanueva.
Villanueva said that Arroyo’s
accommodations will cost taxpayers $2,000, while a 30-person
party will rack up hotel bills amounting to $23,134.00.
Villanueva said that "with the rice
shortage, recent oil price hike, and the general economic
crisis, only a President that has complete disregard of the
people’s plight can spend P2 million with wild abandon."
"The rice crisis will surely fire up the
outrage of overseas Filipinos reeling from economic hardships
and the neglect and irresponsibility of the government," said
Villanueva.
Protests will greet Arroyo on her arrival
in Hong Kong on Sunday, Villanueva added.
"OFWs are angry over corruption, neglect and now, impending
hunger, under the Arroyo regime," said Villanueva. –
With Anthony Ian Cruz
