President Duterte on Thursday defended the construction of the controversial P45-million cauldron for the Southeast Asian Games, saying it was worth every peso spent for it.
Duterte made the statement following the criticisms on the cauldron because of the amount of money spent to construct it.
He said the amount was justified because it was the brainchild of the late National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañosa before he passed away early this year.
“’Yung cauldron was designed by a national artist. You are buying his talent and ‘yung cauldron is the rendition of what you got him in for,” he said. “Kaya walang corruption ‘yan kasi hindi mo ‘yan… Ang presyo niyan, nandoon, namatay na. Eh, kung ayaw mo, ‘di maghanap ka ng ibang artist,” he added.
Duterte had earlier defended House Speaker Alan Cayetano, chair of the SEAG organizing committee, after he was criticized by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon over the 50-meter high cauldron which will burn for the duration of the SEAG from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
“You know, there can never be corruption in that situation because you commissioned a national artist,” the President said.
Duterte also said that one cannot really debate the price of artwork with its creator since it was the artist’s creation.
According to Drilon, the large expense for the cauldron, which would only be used once, could have been used to fund the construction of 50 classrooms. (Argyll Geducos)
