Rowegie Abanto

Article (news)

Manila 

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday slammed some members of the City of Manila&#x27;s Sangguniang Kabataan Federation for flexing their government-funded Thailand trip on social media.</p><p>&quot;I was surprised that … the brazenness of how they would display how much of a good time they were [having] and they kept on posting. And again, it&#x27;s that same culture of trying to be impressive, and that&#x27;s what led to all of this,&quot; DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.</p><p>&quot;You cannot legislate good taste; it&#x27;s really all a matter of bad taste,&quot; he told ANC.</p><p>Some 667 SK leaders in Manila were set to go on a three-day trip to Bangkok, Thailand, this month — which will be done in batches — to attend trainings and seminars focused on HIV prevention as well as to immerse themselves in the Southeast Asian country&#x27;s culture and tourism efforts that could be replicated back home.</p><p>The trip was funded through SK funds, with each participant allotted P33,900 to cover trainings, seminars, transportation, food, and accommodation, said Councilor Juliana Ibay, president of the Manila SK Federation. </p><p>Participants, Ibay said, also received a P6,000 daily subsistence allowance in line with government guidelines.</p><p>She added that all the requirements for official travel were secured, with the trip approved by both the DILG and the City Government of Manila.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/12/manila-sk-federation-thailand-trip-focused-on-hiv-prevention-approved-by-dilg-1701">Manila SK Federation: Thailand trip focused on HIV prevention; approved by DILG</a></div><p>However, photos of them on leisure tours drew criticism online, with people on the internet calling the trip a waste of public funds. </p><p>The trip came amid the flood control scandal that put some government officials and their kin under scrutiny for their lavish lifestyles.</p><p>While public officials are generally allowed to attend capacity-building or leadership training seminars abroad, perception matters just as much as intent, said Ela Atienza, professor at the Department of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman.</p><p>&quot;Maybe it&#x27;s time to review the policy that all travel, if government-funded, should be legitimate and should be for a certain purpose,&quot; Remulla said.</p><p>&quot;Training and travelling, capacity building, I don&#x27;t think that&#x27;s necessary. I think we will study and issue a memorandum circular to that effect,&quot; he added.</p><p>He added that he wanted the SK &quot;remodeled,&quot; saying that after two years, many SK officials &quot;do not function anymore.&quot;</p><p>&quot;What is the use of having them there when they actually get married, they study, they start working, and they have no time,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o34FCdR66bI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla slammed some members of the City of Manila's Sangguniang Kabataan Federation for flexing their government-funded Thailand trip on social media.</p>

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla slammed some members of the City of Manila's Sangguniang Kabataan Federation for flexing their government-funded Thailand trip on social media.

'Bad taste': DILG chief blasts 'brazenness' of Manila SK Federation's flexing of Thailand trip

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'Bad taste': DILG chief blasts 'brazenness' of Manila SK Federation's flexing of Thailand trip

Rowegie Abanto,

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 16, 2025 10:07 AM PHT

Read More:

Manila

SK

Thailand

Manila SK Federation

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