Expenses for President Arroyo’s foreign trips increased by 700 percent a year after she took over Malacañang until 2008, records at the Commission on Audit showed.

Total expenses for Arroyo’s trips abroad in the past seven years reached over P2-billion.

However, annual audit reports prepared by COA indicated that despite the ever-increasing funding for Arroyo’s trips abroad, the Office of the President has been consistent in setting aside huge annual savings that were returned to the Philippine treasury.

In 2007, the chief executive’s office spent only P2.67 billion out of the total budget of P3.37 billion for the year. Savings was estimated at P704.6 million.

Three years earlier, income in excess of expenses reached P815 million.

Total expenditure for 2004 was P2.816 billion while total expense was P2.001 billion.

Presidential expenses for foreign trips came under public scrutiny after she was accused of splurging on government funds in her latest trip to the United States.

Invited by US President Barack Obama, Arroyo was accompanied by 27 congressmen who allegedly did not spend for their hotel accommodations and air fares.

In a press conference, Speaker Prospero Nograles said the 27 solons will be asked to pay for the expenses covered by the trip if Malacañang will only send the Lower House a bill.