The Administrative Secretary of the President boasted to reporters of the belt-tightening measures being taken by the Mejia Administration. Pedro Franco Badia said that the President works with the Budget Director on a daily basis to squeeze value out of every peso’s expenditure. Franco Badia alluded to austerity measures that have even "eliminated sandwiches" provided to presidential staff. "We have reduced gasoline allocations, and petty cash is made available only [to me]. We have only bought absolutely necessary vehicles." He also said that no one on the staff of the National Palace has a government-paid cell phone. "I have canceled more than 250 cell phones," said Franco Badia, adding, "those who want them can pay from their own pockets, like me." He assured reporters that the government is economizing "millions of pesos" in this way.
