Arroyo birthday ads

April 5 was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s birthday and it has been lavishly advertised on newspapers.

An example. In april 4 issue of PDI or Philippine Daily Inquirer, there were 3 sections of the broadsheet that contains different articles about Gloria–her 62nd birthday, her governance, her projects etc.

One page in a broadsheet costs a lot, so where did those persons involved with the ads get the fund? From taxes?

We all know that the Philippines is still in crisis. We are in a tight budget and avoiding unnecessary expenses. One page is enough to express your greetings but to spend a lot for 3 sections in a broadsheet is too much.

According to report, Several ministries and other government agencies bought newspaper space to mark Arroyo’s 62nd birthday Sunday, despite orders to cut costs and save money as falling government revenues push up the budget deficit.(abs-cbnnews.com)

However,  Press Secretary Cerge Remonde  said that  Arroyo had nothing to do with the ads, and that the presidential palace would investigate allegations that members of her cabinet spent hundreds of thousands of pesos (tens of thousands of dollars) on advertising space.

According to him newspaper publishers had tricked the officials into buying ad space, to make themselves look good to the president.