“If he is doing the right thing, he doesn’t need an expensive US-based lobbying firm. His correct acts will eventually be noticed.” Trina Federis, College Editors Guild of the Philippines national president said.

According to a column by journalist Victor Agustin, the Malaysian government spent $24 million for the same firm. This is outrageous, according to Federis.

“If the amount the Malaysia government spent is any indication, to spend that amount during an education crisis is outrageous. The government could instead spend it on the education sector. $24 million is equivalent to 32.2 million textbooks or 1.8 million seats or 27,122 classrooms. The government could also spend it on the commission investigating Arroyo’s crimes against the people, or a commission to resolve media killings.”

“To opt to spend on a lobbying firm shows that President Aquino is far removed from the issues besetting our countrymen. Far from his monicker ‘P-Noy’ (indicating his ordinariness), his actions show otherwise. As president, he is of course not an ordinary citizen. In our country, you cannot run for President with a monthly income o just around P11,000, the country’s minimum wage.” Federis concluded.