KUALA LUMPUR: A Philippine lawmaker has urged the country's Foreign Affairs Department to lodge protest with Singapore over a grant awarded to Taylor Swift to ensure the international pop star performed only in the city state during the Southeast Asian leg of her world tour.
Joey Salceda said in a media statement that Singapore's move was detrimental to its diplomatic relations with Manila, the Straits Times reported.
"(This) isn't what good neighbours do," he said.
Salceda, an economist by training, represents the province of Albay in Congress and also chairs the House committee tasked to oversee Bills that generate government revenue.
He said: "Our countries are good friends. That's why actions like that hurt."
Salceda hoped that Manila would improve its infrastructure to attract world-class acts in the future.
He said Swift's concerts had boosted hotel and air travel bookings to the island republic.
Recently, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he had been told by concert promoter Anschutz Entertainment Group that the Singapore government had offered subsidies of up to US$3 million for each concert in order for Swift to perform exclusively in the city.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Culture, Community and Youth Ministry confirmed there was some subsidy but did not disclose an amount.
More than 300,000 tickets have sold for Swift's six shows at Singapore's National Stadium between March 2 and 9 as part of her The Eras Tour.