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Saturday, September 04, 2004
China spent for travel of Arroyo, family: aide
MANILA -- President Arroyo ended her trip to China Friday with gains on trade, investments and security, as her aides rush to explain her bringing with her on her travel extended family members including nursemaids.
Among the agreements entered into by Arroyo, who is expected back in Manila late Friday night, with the Chinese government include a visa waiver for the two countries' officials and diplomatic personnel, energy redevelopment, and joint seismic survey in the South China Sea.
Two other agreements were on the development of fishery facilities in Palawan and the initiation of the Northrail project linking Metro manila and the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.
Defending Arroyo's bringing with her extended family members in her China visit, her spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in several radio interviews that the Philippine government did not spend for the travel expenses for the President's sons, daughters-in-law, granddaughters and their nannies.
Bunye said the issue has started to overshadow the fruits of Arroyo's visit and this should not be the case.
Another Arroyo aide, Malacaņang Communications Director Silvestre Afable, said criticism of the First Family over the trip was uncalled for, as government did not spend even a single centavo for the President's immediate and extended family members and their personal staff.
China, being the host country, also spent for Arroyo's official delegation, he added.
RP-China ties
Afable said the public should focus more on the fruits of Arroyo's trip, adding that enhanced Philippine-China cooperation in various fields was expected to intensify in the next few years.
According to Afable, Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Arroyo agreed to increase their total trade volume to US$20 billion in the next five years.
Significant gains in cooperation are also expected in agriculture, tourism and even defense, Afable said.
On defense and security, Afable said initial discussions have already been made on the possibility of military exchange visits, training and intelligence information exchange, particularly in relation to addressing the drug problem.
China and the Philippines established diplomatic relations on June 9, 1975.
The two countries will mark the 30th anniversary of their relations next year.
Arroyo is expected back in the country at 11:30 p.m. Friday.
Austerity measures
Buildings and offices in the Presidential Palace complex started Friday to implement austerity measures ordered by Arroyo, switching off air conditioning from noon to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The order to conserve power by turning off air conditioning units covers offices in the Mabini Hall, the Kalayaan Hall, the New Executive Building, the Guest House and the Tahanan ng Masa Complex.
The Mabini Hall houses the Office of the Executive Secretary and his deputies, the Office of the Presidential Legislative Officer records and accounting sections, among others; the Kalayaan Hall houses the Kalayaan Museum, the Press Working Area and offices of press undersecretaries; the New Executive Building where the offices of the First Gentleman, the presidential advisers and assistants and the Communications Director are located; the Guest House where both the President and the Executive Secretary maintains an office; and the Tahanan ng Masa Complex were the Presidential Action Center and Presidential Anti Organized Crime hold office.
Exempted from the order are offices maintaining several computer service providers and the Social Hall, where a mass was regularly held.
"But if there is no activity (in the Social Hall), air-conditioning would be switched off," said Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Waldo Flores in a telephone interview.
Flores said he was still uncertain as to how much the offices would actually save from turning off air conditioning units. Other savings measures apply to use of water, gasoline, office supplies, repair of vehicles and carpools. (Sunnex Luzon/With OPS) |
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