Browse > Home / Articles/Stories / Bush hails Arroyo, Pledges Food Aid

Bush hails Arroyo, Pledges Food Aid

July 7, 2008

U.S. Navy helps storm victims.

WASHINGTON D.C. = President George W. Bush has vowed to extend food aid, praised visiting President Gloria M. Arroyo for her strong anti-terrorism stand, expressed condolence over the victims of typhoon Frank and ordered a US aircraft carrier to help retrieve the bodies of more than 800 passengers trapped in a ship that capsized in the Sibuyan sea June 21.
Arroyo and her big entourage arrived in Washington midnight of June 23 after a stopover in California. She immediately proceeded to her suite at the Willard Hotel where she was welcomed by embassy employes and a few Filipino American leaders.
Bush made the pledge of aid when he welcomed the Philippine president at the White House in the morning of June 24. (See full text of news feed issued by the White House on the meeting elsewhere in this issue.)

The US president said “We talked about, you know, food, and I assured the President we’ll continue to help.” He also said they talked about the importance of moving the bilateral and multilateral trade agenda and lauded Arroyo’s “carrot and stick” tactic in fighting extremists and secessionist rebels in Mindanao.
After expressing his condolences to the families of the victims of typhoon Frank, especially those who died in the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars in the Sibuyan strait in Romblon, the US president said he had ordered the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan to help recover the bodies of the victims trapped in the hull of the Princess of the Stars ferry.
In her response in Pilipino to Bush’s welcome remarks, Arroyo said “we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States in our efforts to establish a progressive Philippines, the torch of democracy in Asia.”
She pointed out that relations between the Philippines and the United
States have “always been strong and healthy.”
She added: “We are in Washington today to discuss with President Bush,
the officials of his administration, and the leaders of Congress on
matters of mutual importance and concern, like food security, defense
cooperation, and economic development. Let us work together to bring the Philippines to the ranks of the developed First World countries within the next 20 years. Let us work together to bring the Philippines to the ranks of First World country within 20 years.”
After the meeting, Arroyo proceeded to the Pentagon, met with the US Asean Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce and attended other functions up to June 26.
Despite opposition calls in the Philippines for her to return home to oversee the relief operations in several provinces devastated by the typhoon, including the destruction of some P7-billion worth of infrastructure, agricultural products and property damages, the President stuck to her 10-day schedule that included a trip to New York and then back to Washington D.C.
She insisted that she was keeping close touch with the relief operations in the Philippines by frequent teleconferencing with top officials in Manila.
She was accompanied to the White House meeting by Secretaries Alberto Romulo of foreign affairs, Gilbert Teodoro of national defense, Peter Favila of trade, Ronaldo Puno of interior, and Arthur Yap of agriculture. Deputy speaker Raul del Mar and Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., the Philippine consul general in San Francisco, were also present.
Arroyo told the US-Asean Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce
Arroyo, for her part, described the US as the “food basket of the world” and urged Bush to extend help to the Philippines in
fighting the “global phenomenon.”
In their talks, Bush did not make any mention about the Filipino veterans equity bill which he has threatened to veto. Prior to the White House meeting, Arroyo conferred awards on members of Congress who are friends of the Philippines.
Filipino veterans have expressed disappointment that Bush did not mention the Veterans’ issue in his remarks.
In her teleconferencing on June 25, the President directed the National Disaster Coordinating Council to conduct ‘needs assessment’ to apprise the international community on RP’s assistance requirements as pledges of aid from the international community started to pour in.
The President pointed out, however, that the country needs to inform
international donors of our specific requirements to facilitate the
immediate deployment of the respective country’s pledge of aid.
“So, you have to do the Needs Assessment systematically and apprise the
different countries, knowing their respective capabilities,” the
President said from her seat at the Willard Inter-Continental Hotel in
Washington, DC.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the President and Sec. Gates
discussed among others counter-terrorism programs and the Philippine
Defense Reform Program (PDRP) in a move to achieve not just domestic
security but also regional environmental security.
In her talks with business leaders, the President reiterated her oft repeated invitation for them to invest in the Philippines because “it is a good, long-term bet.”
“We don’t sell hype, no quick bucks, no false gains. Just strong
fundamentals, good economic stewardship and excellent returns on your
investment. We are the smart, prudent place to place your money,” she added.
As for the loss of lives in the Philippines, the President said in a statement before her third teleconferencing session June 24 expressed grief over the loss of lives and at the same time her anger over the MV Princess of Stars sinking off Sibuyan Island.
”Like many Filipinos,I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives from the typhoon and the ferry tragedy,” the President said as she ordered the various departments to start repair and rehabilitation work on vital infrastructures.
After her arrival in San Francisco June 21, the President explained why there was no need to cut short her trip to the US.
”The instructions of the President are already being carried out so it
is not necessary for the President anymore to cut this trip because this has long been planned and that she was still scheduled to meet a lot of people,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said.

Similar Topics

Posted by News Team · Filed Under Articles/Stories 

Related Keywords: , ,

We love to hear your comments...

Got something to say?





Classic Movies from Snoflagytes.Net