Gov’t budgets P87.1 million for PNoy’s visits to London, Washington D.C.

Monday 4th of June 2012

MANILA, June 4 ---The government is spending P87.1 million for President Benigno S. Aquino III’s official trips to the United Kingdom and the United States, where he will hold bilateral meetings with leaders of the two superpowers, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Monday.

President Aquino left Monday afternoon for London via a chartered Philippine Airlines flight along with an 89-member delegation as official guest of the UK from June 4 to 6.

After his trip to the UK, the Chief Executive’s first to Britain since he became President in 2010, he will proceed to the US for a working visit from June 6 to 8 on the invitation of President Barack Obama.

President Aquino leads the Philippine delegation that also includes Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Toursim Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Energy Secretary Rene Almendras and PCDSPO Secretary Ramon Carandang.

Philippine Ambassador to Washington D.C. Jose Cuisia Jr., Philippine Ambassador to London Enrique Manalo and Presidential Protocol Chief and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Miguel Perez-Rubio are also included in the presidential entourage.

The expenses cover accommodation, telecommunications, transportation, food and equipment, among others, for the President and his official party.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said President Aquino will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss the Philippines-UK political and economic cooperation, Britain’s participation in the International Contact Group (ICG) for the peace process, anti-corruption and good governance practices of both countries, and other regional and international concerns.

The DFA also said the President will likewise meet with several major British investors, take part in the Philippine fun tourism campaign and dialog with the Filipino community in the UK, which is the largest in Europe.

From the UK, President Aquino will fly to Washington D.C. for a one-on-one meeting with President Obama at the Oval Office, their fourth since 2010.

On top of the agenda of the two leaders is discussion on a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues that reflect the multifaceted nature of the two countries’ strategic partnership.

The DFA said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will host a luncheon in honor of President Aquino and his delegation at the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room of the State Department in the US capital.

The President is also scheduled to meet with leaders of the US Senate at a reception organized by Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel K. Inouye on Capitol Hill and will be guest honor at the launch of the US-Philippines Society, a private sector initiative designed to boost economic ties, promote trade and investment, support common strategic and political goals, and strengthen cultural, technological, educational and people-to-people linkages, the DFA said.

Before heading home to Manila, President Aquino will stop by Los Angeles to meet with the Filipino-American community, which represents about 3.1 percent of the city’s population. (OES)