The lavish political rally hosted by the Marcos administration on January 28 is under scrutiny for its staggering budget, prompting public bewilderment and criticism.

A striking revelation by Rappler indicates that a whopping 96% of the allocated P16.4 million was spent on renting technical equipment.

Netizens are now questioning the nature of the concert or event equipment that warranted such an exorbitant expenditure, with critics, particularly the DDS or Duterte loyalists, leveraging the opportunity to assail the Marcos regime.

For President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the event, coinciding with the Duterte powerhouse rally in Davao, aimed to present his “Bagong Pilipinas” aspirations. However, netizens question why it has to come with such a hefty price tag.

What was the cost to taxpayers for the political rally organized by the Marcos regime at Manila’s Quirino Grandstand on January 28?

The event incurred a total expenditure of P16.4 million, with a noteworthy sum of P15.9 million specifically allocated for the acquisition of technical equipment.

This substantial rental fee covered an array of items, including over 100 speakers of diverse types, dozens of microphones, and numerous LED wall panels.

As expected, the PCO stated that the project adhered to public bidding procedures, ultimately granting the contract to GDV Sounds and Lights Rental, a reliable supplier to Malacañang since 2022, Rappler reported.

GDV’s track record includes providing technical equipment for significant events, such as President Marcos’ inauguration, State of the Nation Addresses, and various celebrations involving the First Lady and other official gatherings.

In addition to technical equipment, purchase orders were made for customized lanyards, massive tarpaulins, and day-long meals for hundreds of PCO personnel.

The PCO set a maximum budget of P7.59 million for tokens distributed at the event. Nevertheless, information regarding the ultimate cost and the successful bidder for these items is currently undisclosed.

The total costs, when tallied from the bid documents, exceeded P29 million, as the PCO initially budgeted P5.3 million for entertainment services and P5.3 million for tokens, which were later canceled and failed, respectively.

The rally, reportedly drawing 400,000 attendees, according to organizers, featured numerous performers and concluded with a grand fireworks display, leaving the actual expenses for these aspects undisclosed.