PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left Wednesday afternoon for the US for her July 30 to August 5 visit intended to strengthen the “ongoing relationship” between the Philippines and American President Barack Obama.

Arroyo, in a departure speech at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, said she is pleased about the invitation of Obama, especially with her being the first Southeast Asian leader to meet him at the White House.

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“The fact that President Obama sought out the Philippines for his historic opportunity is a testament to the strong and deep ties between our two nations. It also reflects the ongoing relationship we have built up through a series of phone conversations and correspondences reaching back to when he was a candidate for President,” she said.

Arroyo said her expectations for the trip are “straightforward,” which is to meet the new US President and advance the interests of the Philippines with its “strongest friend and ally.”

She said the US is very essential to the Philippines’ economic, diplomatic, and national security, that is why the agenda of “our meeting would be focused on these issues.”

On the peace and security issues, the two leaders would include in their discussions ways to continue and strengthen regional cooperation on anti-terrorism, particularly in the light of the recent Jakarta bombings.

“The Oval Office meeting with President Obama comes at a pivotal time for US relations in Asia. I am very hopeful that the Obama administration will once again put America back on the radar screen in Asia. The visit to the region by Secretary Clinton and the early outreach by President Obama sends strong signals that the US is committed to a new, more robust engagement with the region,” Arroyo said.

She added that she intends to thank the US for their help advancing the peace process in Mindanao from the training of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to “advancing soft power” by helping build schools, roads, bridges, as well as the local economy “through US development assistance in Mindanao and across the nation.”

Another issue the two presidents would discuss is the global economic crisis, particularly the ways to mitigate its impact on the poor, especially in Asia and the Philippines.

Also up or discussion is the issue of climate change, which is an important issue to an island nation like the Philippines that is “particularly vulnerable to dramatic changes in our weather and rising seas.”

“We applaud President Obama's leadership on climate change. He understands the pressing need for the US to step up and take action… We will do everything in our power to work with the US in this vital issue that confronts the Philippines and the entire human race,” Arroyo said.

The President said that she would also use the opportunity to thank the Obama administration for the “payment of $190 million by the US for Philippine veterans of World War II,” which is “long overdue” and a “long way to rewarding those patriotic Filipinos who fought side by side with Americans, under US command, during the heroic days of World War II.”

The one plus five meeting of Arroyo with Obama will be her first official activity when she arrives in the US.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said everyone, including critics, should wish Arroyo well for her trip. He added it is the “height of political uncivility” for critics to continue attacking her instead of supporting her as the “head of the government or a head of state of a country.”

“She’s supposed to be carrying the interest, the aspirations of the entire Filipino nation. When this (attacks) happens, that even political detractors are supposed to give her political courtesy as head of state and head of government. Apparently the people who are doing this has already forgotten the basic political ethics,” he said, referring to an open daily warning Obama about the controversies involving Arroyo and her administration including allegations of human rights violation and corruption.

Remonde said the supposed letter was not intended for Obama but for the Filipino people, citing it was more of a full-page advertisement than a letter.

He said even the allegations hurled against the administration could easily be answered by the Cabinet members themselves.

“If the real audience in that letter is really intended for President Barrack Obama that would have been formally communicated not in a paid full page newspaper advertisement and therefore having said that, it is clear that the open letter is nothing but again another attempt at besmirching and black propaganda against Her Excellency, President Arroyo,” he said.

For his part, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said those behind the letter were obviously intending to besmirch the President which, however, “will not work.”

Arroyo left around 1 p.m. via Philippine Airlines flight PR 116 for Vancouver, where she will take a connecting flight to Washington.

She was accompanied by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and her sons Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo and Camarines Sur Representative Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria Arroyo.

Presidential adviser for political affairs and Acting Executive Secretary Gabriel Claudio said other officials joining the delegation were cabinet secretaries led by Ermita, Remonde, Alberto Romulo (Foreign Affairs), Gilbert Teodoro (National Defense), Peter Favila (Trade and Industry), Marianito Roque (Labor and employment), Margarito Teves (Finance).

Also included were Solicitor General and Acting Justice secretary Agnes Devanadera, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Speaker Prospero Nograles, and ambassador to the US Willie Gaa.

On the other members of Congress who may have joined the trip, Claudio said that “out of deference” and “out of respect” for the lawmakers, it should be the House of Representatives that should release the names.

After her meeting with Obama on July 30, Arroyo would grant an interview with the Philippine media before proceeding to her meetings with both congressional leaders including Nevada Senator Harry Reid, and the members of the US House ways and means committee.

She would also meet the leaders of the RP-US Friends Caucus, and attend a forum at the Coral Triangle with National Geographic.

While in Washington, the President is expected also to meet on July 31, the representatives of the Millennium Challenge Account, Secretary on Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, and to have dinner with the Filipino community in Washington D.C.

On August 1, Arroyo will proceed to New York where she will meet with leaders of US multinational companies investing in the Philippines, and grant an interview with CNBC.

On August 2, the President will go to Chicago to meet with business leaders and the Filipino community and proceed on August 3 to Guam to meet with officials and the Filipino community and be back in Manila on August 5. (JMR/Sunnex)