Saturday, September 09, 2006
Arroyo begins four-nation journey (9:58 a.m.)
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left early Saturday morning for Europe, Cuba, and Hawaii.
Arroyo will go to Helsinki in Finland, Brussels in Belgium, Havana in Cuba, and Hawaii. She will return on September 18.
She will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio; Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago; Representatives Nanette Castelo-Daza of Quezon City, Consuelo Dy of Pasay, Benasing Macarambon Jr. of Lanao del Su), Corazon Malanyaon of Davao Oriental, Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City, Danilo Suarez of Quezon, and Amelita Villarosa of Occidental Mindoro; Governors Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar and Adolph Edward Plaza of Agusan del Sur; and Ambassador to Sweden Victoria Bataclan.
Arroyo, in her departure statement, said she will open up more opportunities with Japan by signing the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Helsinki on Sunday.
Arroyo said as chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) this year, she will represent the economic and cultural interests of the region in building close alliances with Europe and the European Union (EU). She said she will do the same in promoting peace and human rights issues with the 125-member nations of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference in Cuba.
In London, she said she will take a hands-on role in promoting the Philippines? fast-growing position in terms of business process outsourcing while in Hawaii, she said she will celebrate the more than 100 years of Philippine migration to America.
She said she will bring new economic opportunities to the Philippines so that Filipinos do not have to go abroad. "?As much as I accept the value of these arduous trips abroad, I am already looking forward to my return home,"? she added. (JMR)
|
