Gov't sets aside P4.5-M for President Aquino's official trip to Thailand
The government has earmarked around P4.5 million for the official visit of President Benigno Aquino III and a 52-man delegation to Thailand where he is expected to make a pitch for investments under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program and foster cooperation in agriculture and in combating drug-trafficking.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Thursday that funding for the trip covers expenses for air fare, hotel accommodations, food, transportation, and telecommunications and equipment requirements.
President Aquino left this morning for Bangkok for a two-day trip on the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. He was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.
“The President’s visit to Thailand seeks to fortify the bilateral relations of our country with Thailand. Our country and Thailand have a dynamic and thriving relationship and we intend to strengthen that relationship with them, as well as with the rest of our neighbors in the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),” Ochoa said.
Other officials who are part of the presidential delegation are Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Linglingay Lacanlale, Chief of Protocol and Presidential Assistant for Foreign Affairs Miguel Perez-Rubio, Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia Asirit, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Cristina Ortega and Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said President Aquino is expected to present investment possibilities in the Philippines under the PPP program to Prime Minister Abhisit and Thai business groups.
According to the DFA, there will be discussions on possible collaboration in agriculture and fighting drug trafficking between officials of the Philippines and Thailand, among others.
The Chief Executive is also scheduled to meet the Filipino community in Thailand. (PCOO)
Aquino to promote public-private partnership program in state visit to Thailand
President Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to promote the country’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) program as part of the agenda of his 2-day state visit to the Kingdom of Thailand.
In an interview with Radio-TV Malacanang (RTVM) in Bangkok on Tuesday, Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Linglingay Lacanlale said that the President may pursue the promotion of the government’s PPP programs, specifically on infrastructure development, as soon as he meets with Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and top Thai business executives.
Lacanlale said that the Chief Executive will be presenting investment possibilities in the Philippines under the PPP program.
“Aside from trade marami tayong opportunities for cooperation. Alam natin na ang Presidente tuwing makakausap niya ang mga pinuno ng mga iba’t-ibang pamahalaan sinasabi niya itong ating programa na PPP sa infrastructure development, so isa ito sa puwedeng i-pursue ng Pangulo”, Lacanlale said.
The President is set to meet with key officials of prominent Thai business companies that include the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, Siam Cement Group (SCG), and Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) Public Company Limited.
It will be recalled that during the bilateral talks between the Philippines and Thailand in the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held in Jakarta, Indonesia, recently, the Thai leader has expressed keen interest in participating in the said project to share their experiences and knowledge in infrastructure development.
Over the years, the Philippines and Thailand has maintained good diplomatic relationship and reciprocity in the field of trade and investment.
Apart from this, other issues of cooperation to be discussed include addressing the problem of drug trafficking, agricultural support and cooperation in regional and multilateral forums, among others. (PCOO)
President Aquino off to Thailand
President Benigno S. Aquino III left Manila Thursday morning for a 2-day official visit to the kingdom of Thailand from May 26 to 27.
The President, who boarded a commercial flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, was sent off by Cabinet members, airport officials and staff and members of media.
In his pre-departure statement, the President said this trip was made upon the invitation of Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiya and will further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries as they seek to expand unity among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“We leave for Thailand this morning upon the invitation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. This is part of our administration’s agenda to strengthen bilateral ties with Thailand and to expand unity in the ASEAN region,” the President said in Filipino.
The President said that he would also discuss the drug trafficking problem, disaster preparedness and the furtherance of academics and agriculture between the two countries.
Aside from this, the President said he would also meet with Thailand businessmen in order to entice them to invest in the Philippines through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program.
He expressed confidence that once he is able to present to them his administration’s plan to improve the Philippines, the Thailand businessmen would open up shop in the country.
“Nagtitiwala kaming ma-enganyo ang mga negosyante sa Thailand na maglagak ng kanilang mga negosyo sa ating bansa,” the President said.
“Katumbas ng kanilang mga negosyo ang paglikha ng trabaho para sa mga Pilipino at karagdagang pondo ng gobyerno para sa makabuluhang mga serbisyo (Their investment would mean more jobs for Filipinos which in turn would mean more funds the government can use for government service),” the President said.
The President said he would meet with the Filipino community in Thailand to “personally thank them for their sacrifice of working far from home not only to improve the lives of their families but the Filipino economy as well.”
“Tiwala po akong sa ating mabuting hangarin, kaakibat ang inyong mga panalangin, magiging matagumpay ang biyaheng ito,” the President said.
“I have not yet left but already I am excited to get back to you with the good news we will receive with this visit to Thailand,” he added. (PCOO)
Government committed to attain lasting peace - Palace
The government renewed its commitment to resolve decades-old conflict in the country following a global assessment on peace and security around the world.
“We have continued to work on two fronts to ensure that the country and our people can move forward with peace and order providing the means to empower our people to pursue productive activities,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a released statement on Thursday.
“We will remain steadfast on the path to peace. This administration views hostilities as an unacceptable condition; we will continue to be dissatisfied so long as we cannot achieve an honorable, just, and lasting peace for our people,” he added.
Lacierda said negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are continuing. The government also restarted peace talks with the Communist Party of Philippines-National Democratic Front-New Peoples Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) after the negotiations were stalled for several years.
The government peace panels, in cooperation with national authorities and our friends in the global community of nations is engaged in talks characterized by honesty, dedication, and open-mindedness, he said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III acknowledged in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) that peace is a fundamental requirement for the development and prosperity of the country.
In the fifth edition of the Institute for Economics and Peace’s (IEP) Global Peace Index (GPI) released on Wednesday, the Philippines is categorized among nations “in conflict” and “grappling with fetters to social and economic development of its citizens.”
The GPI is an initiative of the Institute for Economics and Peace that ranks 153 countries by their peacefulness and seeks to identify the determinants of peace. The index aims to understand the factors that create and sustain peace. (PCOO)
Government urges boycott of illegal traders of black corals
Malacanang has urged the local and international buying public to boycott traders involved in the illegal business of black corals in an effort to protect biodiversity not only in the country but also in other parts of the world.
In an official statement issued on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda underscored the need for a greater inspection of the black coral trade so that Philippine authorities can work with their counterparts in other places in putting a halt on the destructive business.
“We need greater scrutiny of the trade in black corals as it is in all our interest to stamp out this destructive trade”, the statement read.
“We call on all consumers the world over to make a similar commitment to saving the biodiversity of our seas, by refusing to buy black coral items,” it added.
The statement further stated that there are instances where black coral from the Philippines is exported to other countries and passed off as sourced in those countries. For this reason, the government is asking for the cooperation of Filipinos abroad to look into black corals that may have been smuggled from the Philippines.
“We must bear in mind that even as our authorities such as the Bureaus of Customs, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and departments like the Department of Environments and Natural Resources (DENR) work to interdict the poachers and their contraband, establishing protected areas and making them successful is, ultimately, what will stem the tide of environmental destruction,” the statement added.
It also said that for every major success story like the protection of Tubbataha Reef and the cooperation between foreign governments and the Philippines, national and local authorities, and government and NGOs it represents, there remain the threats represented by poachers: as proven by the confiscation of poached goods.
The statement also said that news such as the report of the confiscation of illegally harvested black coral from the Sulu Sea helps the authorities identify areas that can be patrolled. It also alerts NGOs committed to saving the environment, and individuals such as divers who have a vested interest in protecting marine biodiversity, to step up their advocacies to help the common cause: making a difference in safeguarding the coral reefs. Such manner paves the way for success stories to turn into environmental victories.
The government called on the Local Government Units (LGUs) to refer to, and implement, the guidebook on Coral Reef Protection issued by the DENR last year. Local governments, it added, can learn from the best practices of their fellow LGUs.
As an example, Lacierda cited the partnership between the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and the municipality of Bolinao, in the province of Pangasinan where training workshops and coral transplantation have been undertaken in the coastal barangays of Lucero, Balingasay, Binabalian and Victory, to name a few.
In Occidental Mindoro, the municipalities of Looc and Lubang last year passed ordinances establishing marine management areas around the Lubang islands in the Verde Island Passage; and the Kilusan Sagip Kalikasan in Palawan and its efforts against cyanide fishers.
Very recently, the Bureau of Customs foiled a plot to smuggle out of the country sacks of rare black sea corals that were intercepted in Cebu.
Customs officials suspected that the P15 million worth of black sea corals shipped from Manila and seized in Cebu on May 19 were somehow linked to their earlier catch of dead rare sea turtles, black corals and sea shells shipped from Cotabato.
The bureau touted it as its first biggest catch involving endangered marine species.
Marine experts have estimated that about 7,000 hectares of “reef complex” were destroyed when poachers harvested 161 sea turtles and over 21,000 sea shells and black corals off the waters of Cotabato. (PCOO)
Aquino arrives to a warm welcome in Bangkok
BANGKOK, Thailand: President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived here Thursday at the start of his 2-day official visit to further strengthen bilateral, economic and friendly relations with the Kingdom of Thailand, one of the member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Chief Executive, who arrived at around 12:15 p.m. (Bangkok time) at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on board a Philippine Airlines commercial flight, received a warm welcome from Thai officials headed by Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Trairong Suwannakhir, Chief Protocol Officer of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bansarn Bunnag and Philippine Embassy officials led by Ambassador Linglingay F. Lacanlale.
The President was accompanied by a lean delegation composed of Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Del Rosario, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Presidential Communication Strategic Planning and Development Office Secretary Ricky Carandang.
After the simple arrival ceremonies at the airport, the President was immediately whisked to the Shangri-La Hotel, where he is billeted during the duration of his visit.
He began his day here by meeting separately with the business executives of Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, Siam Cement Group, and Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) Public Company during a courtesy call on him at the Shangri-La Hotel’s Chairman Room.
Later in the evening, the President will hold a bilateral meeting with His Excellency Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Government House. The two leaders are expected to discuss issues related to combating drug trafficking, agriculture, and strengthening bilateral and economic relations between the two countries.
After their bilateral talks, the two leaders will conduct a joint press conference to be attended by members of the local and international media at the Government House.
The President will cap the first day of his official visit by attending an dinner hosted in his honor by Prime Minister Vejjajiva at the Santi Maitri Building of the Government House. (PCOO)
Aquino to be conferred honorary doctorate degree in Economics in Bangkok
President Benigno S. Aquino III will be conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Economics by the Kasetsart University of Thailand during his two-day official visit here from May 26 to 27' 2011.
The Chief executive, who just arrived here on Thursday afternoon upon the invitation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajjiva, will be conferred the honorary doctorate degree for having done a " lot of things in the area of the economy" when he was still in the House of Representatives and for his "policy of focusing on the economy for the well being of the Filipino people" when he became President in June 2010.
In an interview, Vudtechai Kapilakanchana, President of the Kasetsart University said that it is the first time that their university gave the doctorate degree to a president in Asia.
"He's the first one (referring to President Aquino) In the old days, we gave the doctoral degree to the President of Finland, and the President of Peru.....this is our honor to have him receive that doctoral degree from Kasetsart University," Kapilakanchana stressed.
According to the professor, Kasetsart (University) which, he said, means agriculture, was established in 1943 as a pioneer school of agriculture. The university courses were later expanded to other fields of learning except doctor for medical doctor.
"We can say that in the field of agriculture, we are number one. We're also number one in agro-industry as well as in the field of veterinary medicine and computer and software engineering," he said.
Kapilakanchana also made mention that their university has been in close relation and coordination with the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna. "We sent a lot of staff to study there. Right now, I think we have Philippine students in our university. It is also our main policy to have foreign students in our university," he added.
He likewise underscored the importance of his country as well as other Asian countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam to focus on agriculture because of their respective suitable lands, and climate.
The university operates on a two-semester calendar with a summer session. With seven campuses spread across Thailand, the school boasts of an enrollment of about 23,000 students. (PCOO)
The government has earmarked around P4.5 million for the official visit of President Benigno Aquino III and a 52-man delegation to Thailand where he is expected to make a pitch for investments under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program and foster cooperation in agriculture and in combating drug-trafficking.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Thursday that funding for the trip covers expenses for air fare, hotel accommodations, food, transportation, and telecommunications and equipment requirements.
President Aquino left this morning for Bangkok for a two-day trip on the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. He was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.
“The President’s visit to Thailand seeks to fortify the bilateral relations of our country with Thailand. Our country and Thailand have a dynamic and thriving relationship and we intend to strengthen that relationship with them, as well as with the rest of our neighbors in the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),” Ochoa said.
Other officials who are part of the presidential delegation are Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Linglingay Lacanlale, Chief of Protocol and Presidential Assistant for Foreign Affairs Miguel Perez-Rubio, Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia Asirit, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Cristina Ortega and Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said President Aquino is expected to present investment possibilities in the Philippines under the PPP program to Prime Minister Abhisit and Thai business groups.
According to the DFA, there will be discussions on possible collaboration in agriculture and fighting drug trafficking between officials of the Philippines and Thailand, among others.
The Chief Executive is also scheduled to meet the Filipino community in Thailand. (PCOO)
Aquino to promote public-private partnership program in state visit to Thailand
President Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to promote the country’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) program as part of the agenda of his 2-day state visit to the Kingdom of Thailand.
In an interview with Radio-TV Malacanang (RTVM) in Bangkok on Tuesday, Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Linglingay Lacanlale said that the President may pursue the promotion of the government’s PPP programs, specifically on infrastructure development, as soon as he meets with Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and top Thai business executives.
Lacanlale said that the Chief Executive will be presenting investment possibilities in the Philippines under the PPP program.
“Aside from trade marami tayong opportunities for cooperation. Alam natin na ang Presidente tuwing makakausap niya ang mga pinuno ng mga iba’t-ibang pamahalaan sinasabi niya itong ating programa na PPP sa infrastructure development, so isa ito sa puwedeng i-pursue ng Pangulo”, Lacanlale said.
The President is set to meet with key officials of prominent Thai business companies that include the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, Siam Cement Group (SCG), and Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) Public Company Limited.
It will be recalled that during the bilateral talks between the Philippines and Thailand in the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held in Jakarta, Indonesia, recently, the Thai leader has expressed keen interest in participating in the said project to share their experiences and knowledge in infrastructure development.
Over the years, the Philippines and Thailand has maintained good diplomatic relationship and reciprocity in the field of trade and investment.
Apart from this, other issues of cooperation to be discussed include addressing the problem of drug trafficking, agricultural support and cooperation in regional and multilateral forums, among others. (PCOO)
President Aquino off to Thailand
President Benigno S. Aquino III left Manila Thursday morning for a 2-day official visit to the kingdom of Thailand from May 26 to 27.
The President, who boarded a commercial flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, was sent off by Cabinet members, airport officials and staff and members of media.
In his pre-departure statement, the President said this trip was made upon the invitation of Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiya and will further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries as they seek to expand unity among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“We leave for Thailand this morning upon the invitation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. This is part of our administration’s agenda to strengthen bilateral ties with Thailand and to expand unity in the ASEAN region,” the President said in Filipino.
The President said that he would also discuss the drug trafficking problem, disaster preparedness and the furtherance of academics and agriculture between the two countries.
Aside from this, the President said he would also meet with Thailand businessmen in order to entice them to invest in the Philippines through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program.
He expressed confidence that once he is able to present to them his administration’s plan to improve the Philippines, the Thailand businessmen would open up shop in the country.
“Nagtitiwala kaming ma-enganyo ang mga negosyante sa Thailand na maglagak ng kanilang mga negosyo sa ating bansa,” the President said.
“Katumbas ng kanilang mga negosyo ang paglikha ng trabaho para sa mga Pilipino at karagdagang pondo ng gobyerno para sa makabuluhang mga serbisyo (Their investment would mean more jobs for Filipinos which in turn would mean more funds the government can use for government service),” the President said.
The President said he would meet with the Filipino community in Thailand to “personally thank them for their sacrifice of working far from home not only to improve the lives of their families but the Filipino economy as well.”
“Tiwala po akong sa ating mabuting hangarin, kaakibat ang inyong mga panalangin, magiging matagumpay ang biyaheng ito,” the President said.
“I have not yet left but already I am excited to get back to you with the good news we will receive with this visit to Thailand,” he added. (PCOO)
Government committed to attain lasting peace - Palace
The government renewed its commitment to resolve decades-old conflict in the country following a global assessment on peace and security around the world.
“We have continued to work on two fronts to ensure that the country and our people can move forward with peace and order providing the means to empower our people to pursue productive activities,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a released statement on Thursday.
“We will remain steadfast on the path to peace. This administration views hostilities as an unacceptable condition; we will continue to be dissatisfied so long as we cannot achieve an honorable, just, and lasting peace for our people,” he added.
Lacierda said negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are continuing. The government also restarted peace talks with the Communist Party of Philippines-National Democratic Front-New Peoples Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) after the negotiations were stalled for several years.
The government peace panels, in cooperation with national authorities and our friends in the global community of nations is engaged in talks characterized by honesty, dedication, and open-mindedness, he said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III acknowledged in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) that peace is a fundamental requirement for the development and prosperity of the country.
In the fifth edition of the Institute for Economics and Peace’s (IEP) Global Peace Index (GPI) released on Wednesday, the Philippines is categorized among nations “in conflict” and “grappling with fetters to social and economic development of its citizens.”
The GPI is an initiative of the Institute for Economics and Peace that ranks 153 countries by their peacefulness and seeks to identify the determinants of peace. The index aims to understand the factors that create and sustain peace. (PCOO)
Government urges boycott of illegal traders of black corals
Malacanang has urged the local and international buying public to boycott traders involved in the illegal business of black corals in an effort to protect biodiversity not only in the country but also in other parts of the world.
In an official statement issued on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda underscored the need for a greater inspection of the black coral trade so that Philippine authorities can work with their counterparts in other places in putting a halt on the destructive business.
“We need greater scrutiny of the trade in black corals as it is in all our interest to stamp out this destructive trade”, the statement read.
“We call on all consumers the world over to make a similar commitment to saving the biodiversity of our seas, by refusing to buy black coral items,” it added.
The statement further stated that there are instances where black coral from the Philippines is exported to other countries and passed off as sourced in those countries. For this reason, the government is asking for the cooperation of Filipinos abroad to look into black corals that may have been smuggled from the Philippines.
“We must bear in mind that even as our authorities such as the Bureaus of Customs, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and departments like the Department of Environments and Natural Resources (DENR) work to interdict the poachers and their contraband, establishing protected areas and making them successful is, ultimately, what will stem the tide of environmental destruction,” the statement added.
It also said that for every major success story like the protection of Tubbataha Reef and the cooperation between foreign governments and the Philippines, national and local authorities, and government and NGOs it represents, there remain the threats represented by poachers: as proven by the confiscation of poached goods.
The statement also said that news such as the report of the confiscation of illegally harvested black coral from the Sulu Sea helps the authorities identify areas that can be patrolled. It also alerts NGOs committed to saving the environment, and individuals such as divers who have a vested interest in protecting marine biodiversity, to step up their advocacies to help the common cause: making a difference in safeguarding the coral reefs. Such manner paves the way for success stories to turn into environmental victories.
The government called on the Local Government Units (LGUs) to refer to, and implement, the guidebook on Coral Reef Protection issued by the DENR last year. Local governments, it added, can learn from the best practices of their fellow LGUs.
As an example, Lacierda cited the partnership between the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and the municipality of Bolinao, in the province of Pangasinan where training workshops and coral transplantation have been undertaken in the coastal barangays of Lucero, Balingasay, Binabalian and Victory, to name a few.
In Occidental Mindoro, the municipalities of Looc and Lubang last year passed ordinances establishing marine management areas around the Lubang islands in the Verde Island Passage; and the Kilusan Sagip Kalikasan in Palawan and its efforts against cyanide fishers.
Very recently, the Bureau of Customs foiled a plot to smuggle out of the country sacks of rare black sea corals that were intercepted in Cebu.
Customs officials suspected that the P15 million worth of black sea corals shipped from Manila and seized in Cebu on May 19 were somehow linked to their earlier catch of dead rare sea turtles, black corals and sea shells shipped from Cotabato.
The bureau touted it as its first biggest catch involving endangered marine species.
Marine experts have estimated that about 7,000 hectares of “reef complex” were destroyed when poachers harvested 161 sea turtles and over 21,000 sea shells and black corals off the waters of Cotabato. (PCOO)
Aquino arrives to a warm welcome in Bangkok
BANGKOK, Thailand: President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived here Thursday at the start of his 2-day official visit to further strengthen bilateral, economic and friendly relations with the Kingdom of Thailand, one of the member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Chief Executive, who arrived at around 12:15 p.m. (Bangkok time) at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on board a Philippine Airlines commercial flight, received a warm welcome from Thai officials headed by Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Trairong Suwannakhir, Chief Protocol Officer of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bansarn Bunnag and Philippine Embassy officials led by Ambassador Linglingay F. Lacanlale.
The President was accompanied by a lean delegation composed of Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Del Rosario, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Presidential Communication Strategic Planning and Development Office Secretary Ricky Carandang.
After the simple arrival ceremonies at the airport, the President was immediately whisked to the Shangri-La Hotel, where he is billeted during the duration of his visit.
He began his day here by meeting separately with the business executives of Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, Siam Cement Group, and Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) Public Company during a courtesy call on him at the Shangri-La Hotel’s Chairman Room.
Later in the evening, the President will hold a bilateral meeting with His Excellency Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Government House. The two leaders are expected to discuss issues related to combating drug trafficking, agriculture, and strengthening bilateral and economic relations between the two countries.
After their bilateral talks, the two leaders will conduct a joint press conference to be attended by members of the local and international media at the Government House.
The President will cap the first day of his official visit by attending an dinner hosted in his honor by Prime Minister Vejjajiva at the Santi Maitri Building of the Government House. (PCOO)
Aquino to be conferred honorary doctorate degree in Economics in Bangkok
President Benigno S. Aquino III will be conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Economics by the Kasetsart University of Thailand during his two-day official visit here from May 26 to 27' 2011.
The Chief executive, who just arrived here on Thursday afternoon upon the invitation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajjiva, will be conferred the honorary doctorate degree for having done a " lot of things in the area of the economy" when he was still in the House of Representatives and for his "policy of focusing on the economy for the well being of the Filipino people" when he became President in June 2010.
In an interview, Vudtechai Kapilakanchana, President of the Kasetsart University said that it is the first time that their university gave the doctorate degree to a president in Asia.
"He's the first one (referring to President Aquino) In the old days, we gave the doctoral degree to the President of Finland, and the President of Peru.....this is our honor to have him receive that doctoral degree from Kasetsart University," Kapilakanchana stressed.
According to the professor, Kasetsart (University) which, he said, means agriculture, was established in 1943 as a pioneer school of agriculture. The university courses were later expanded to other fields of learning except doctor for medical doctor.
"We can say that in the field of agriculture, we are number one. We're also number one in agro-industry as well as in the field of veterinary medicine and computer and software engineering," he said.
Kapilakanchana also made mention that their university has been in close relation and coordination with the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna. "We sent a lot of staff to study there. Right now, I think we have Philippine students in our university. It is also our main policy to have foreign students in our university," he added.
He likewise underscored the importance of his country as well as other Asian countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam to focus on agriculture because of their respective suitable lands, and climate.
The university operates on a two-semester calendar with a summer session. With seven campuses spread across Thailand, the school boasts of an enrollment of about 23,000 students. (PCOO)
