North Eastern Mindanao State University

MAIN CAMPUS
Rosario, Tandag City, 8300 Surigao del Sur
GRADUATE SCHOOL

NAME : FRENZY M. PICASALES SUBJECT : MBA 202

BLOCK : 1MBA-B
PROFESSOR: DR. DONALD MONTENEGRO

MBA 202 ( Social Responsibility and Good Governance )

CLASSWORK 3

1. The President is on an official trip, spending money and performing official functions
with his entourage. Is it moral to spend thousands of pesos to attend the Singapore Grand
Prix?

No, it is never moral for a President, whose funds come from Filipino taxpayers, to
spend thousands of pesos just to attend the Singapore Grand Prix, especially when considering
that Typhoon Noru left death and destruction on Luzon Island. The funds could be better spent
on other pressing issues, such as disaster risk reduction, healthcare, or infrastructure, which
have a more direct and positive impact on the lives of citizens.

According to ACT Teachers Representative and House Deputy Minority Leader France
Castro (2003), if indeed President Marcos Jr. used government resources for obviously
personal, extravagant, and frivolous junket in time of economic hardship, then it is like a punch
in the gut of hungry Filipinos. His whole Singapore Grand Prix trip is insensitive and callous
in light of the suffering of Filipinos. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) President Renato
Reyes (2003) said that in the proposed 2024 budget, Marcos Jr. requested P1.4 billion in travel
funds.

In this case, the attendance of the President in the Singapore Grand Prix while many
Filipinos are facing economic hardships implies a lack of sensitivity to the suffering of his
constituents. Citizens may view it as a disregard for their struggles. Leaders are expected to
prioritize the welfare of their people, especially during difficult times. The funds could be better
spent in addressing the aftermath of the typhoon such as disaster relief recovery, infrastructure
repair and reconstruction, humanitarian aid, disaster preparedness and mitigation, healthcare,
livelihood support and community resilience programs. Moreover, such a substantial amount
allocated for travel expenses, especially when the nation is grappling with economic
challenges, can be seen as questionable.

Therefore, it is not moral to spend thousands of pesos to attend the Singapore Grand
Prix. I believe that in the face of a natural disaster, a responsible President should prioritize the
welfare and well-being of their constituents instead of attending a luxury event. The funds that
have been spent on a luxury event like the Singapore Grand Prix could be put to more
meaningful and moral use by addressing the immediate needs of those affected by Typhoon
Noru and by investing in long-term recovery, resilience, and preparedness efforts.

2. What are your thoughts on the PBBM's participation in the Grand Prix? Was it ethical
or personal?

Yes. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr.’s participation in the

Grand Prix was clearly personal yet not ethical. It did not serve a clear and justifiable public
purpose, so it is seen as an unethical use of funds for personal enjoyment. Public officials,
especially those funded by taxpayers, are expected to exercise prudence and prioritize the needs
of their constituents over personal enjoyment.

According to National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates-Youth Spokesperson

Marina Cavan (2023), the fact that Marcos spends more time abroad than in his office at the
Department of Agriculture speaks volumes about his sincerity in addressing the issues faced
by farmers. Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas (2023) shared similar sentiments, saying
that his trip to Singapore came on the heels of economic woes in the Philippines. Floodwaters
have not subsided in many rice fields hit by Typhoon Karding, but the President prioritized
flying to Singapore to watch the F1 Grand Prix. Renato Reyes (2023) also said that the F1
drivers were prioritized over the Pinoy motorists who were battered by the 11-week oil price
hike.

In this case, the sentiments expressed by the spokespersons above emphasize the need
for public officials to align their actions with the needs of the Filipino people and address
pressing issues at home, rather than indulging in personal extravagance. It's a call for more
responsible, empathetic governance. This situation underscores the importance of
accountability and transparency in government spending, as well as the need for public officials
to prioritize the well-being of their constituents and demonstrate a commitment to serving the
people's interests.

As a conclusion, the participation of President Marcos Jr. in the Grand Prix was clearly
personal and not ethical. He appears to prioritize personal enjoyment over the needs of the
Filipino people, particularly during a time of economic hardship and national challenges. The
fact that he holds the position of Department of Agriculture Secretary, I believe that he should
have focused on addressing the specific needs and current challenges of the farming community
which impacts the livelihoods and food security of a significant portion of the population.

3. Citing the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,
despite the Philippines' economic problems, whether spending this excessive amount of
money on grand prix is praiseworthy or repulsive is a personal decision. What is your
take on this action?

My take on the President’s action where he spent excessive amount of money on grand
prix is that it raises concerns about prioritization and leadership during times of crisis. It’s very
essential for the President to carefully consider his actions especially when people are facing
significant challenges. Spending excessive amount of money on grand prix is a repulsive,
personal decision. The Singapore F1 weekend getaway was insensitive, unnecessary and
irresponsible given the crisis that the nation is in.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno Labor Movement (2023) said the trip was an insult to workers
grappling with hyper-inflation and low wages and victims of a powerful typhoon which left at
least 12 people dead and a trail of devastation in northern provinces. Thousands remained
displaced following the onslaught.

In this case, the excessive amount of money spent on grand prix should have spent to
Filipino people. It’s sad that the Filipinos are in the middle of a crisis. People are suffering. But
President Marcos, Jr. had the guts to go to Singapore just to watch grand prix. For sure, people’s
taxes are involved here.

Therefore, the President should not go on a trip that costs a million when people are
suffering from crisis. He must prioritize the immediate needs of the nation, showing empathy
and solidarity with the affected citizens. Allocating resources to address the crisis and ensuring
efficient relief efforts should take precedence over personal or extravagant trips. Leaders must
be mindful of the message their actions convey and demonstrate responsible and compassionate
governance during times of adversity.

4. Would it be legal (authorized) for the President to take a personal pleasure trip while
on official business?

No. It will never be legal for the President to take a personal pleasure trip while on
official business. A President’s primary role is to serve the nation and address its pressing
needs. Taking personal pleasure trips during a national crisis can convey a lack of focus on
these critical responsibilities, which might erode public trust.

According to the Memorandum Circular No. 35, Section 1 highlighting “Allowable

Foreign Trips,” no official travel abroad shall be allowed unless it satisfies all of the following
minimum criteria: (a) the purpose of the trip is strictly within the mandate of the requesting
government official or personnel; (b) the projected expenses for the trip are not excessive; and
(c) the trip is expected to bring substantial benefit to the country.

In this case, the President attended the grand prix which is not within its mandate and
the projected expenses for trip are very excessive. The presidential jet they used had an
operating cost of $5,343 per hour in which the two-way total cost is $32,058 or P1.885M. For
general tickets, a single day pass for the Sunday race costs about P40,570, and the hospitality
packages start from about P406,440.

Therefore, it will never be legal for the President to take a personal pleasure trip while
on official business. I believe that the breach of official travel guidelines raises questions about
transparency, accountability, and the President’s adherence to established procedures.
Moreover, I couldn’t see any necessity for the said trip and he is setting a very bad example.
It’s true that political leaders like any other individuals have the right to unwind and take breaks
especially during the weekend, however taxpayers’ money should not be used and the timing
of such breaks should be planned wisely, not neglecting the suffering of the Filipino people
during the crisis.
REFERENCES

De Leon, D. (2023). ‘Insensitive, callous’: Marcos criticized over ‘luxurious’ Singapore Grand
Prix trip. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/lawmakers-reactions-
marcos-jr-singapore-grand-prix-trip-october-2022/ on October 14, 2023.

Gomez, J. (2023). Marcos trip to watch Singapore F1 races sparks criticism. Retrieved from
https://apnews.com/article/sports-social-media-formula-one-philippines-
be887f22cee2c7069ee181a75a2bd036 on October 14, 2023.

Villeza, M. (2023). President Marcos hit for attending F1 Grand Prix in Singapore. Retrieved
from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/18/2297136/president-marcos-
hit-attending-f1-grand-prix-singapore on October 14, 2023.