Ochoa: President Aquino’s working visit to Japan costs P20 million
The government is spending around P20 million for President Benigno Aquino III’s three-day working visit to Japan that is expected to bring in at least $1 billion in fresh investments and more than 9 billion yen in official development assistance.
According to Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., the President and his 63-member delegation will fly to Japan on the invitation of the Japanese government Sunday morning via a special commercial flight.
Among the members of the Chief Executive’s official delegation are Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Energy Secretary Rene Almendras.
“In this trip, our President wishes to further advance our strategic cooperation with Japan, our friend for more than half a century now,” Ochoa said. “We always look forward to stronger bilateral relations with one of our important partners in the region.”
In Japan, President Aquino will pay a state call on His Majesty Emperor Akihito and meet with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda, to discuss a wide array of issues to further advance the two countries’ strategic partnership.
Other highlights of the President’s official working visit are the keynote speech at the Philippine Economic Forum and meetings with major business groups, among them Keidanren, Japan Business Federation, Japan-Tokyo Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Japan Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee.
The Chief Executive will also witness the signing of several memoranda of agreement on new investment projects in energy, mining, property development, automotive, ship-building and infrastructure development, among others, under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme. Top officials of big Japanese companies are also scheduled to meet with the President.
President Aquino is also set to meet the Filipino community in Tokyo and in Miyagi, one of the prefectures in northeastern Japan hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11.
According to Ochoa, the P20-million budget covers expenses for the special commercial flight, hotel accommodations, food, transportation, and telecommunications and equipment requirements.
President Aquino is set to return on September 28. (PCOO)
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Aquino declares September 27 special non-working holiday in Malvar, Batangas
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared September 27, 2011 (Tuesday) as a special non-working day in the municipality of Malvar, Batangas in celebration of the 146th birth anniversary of General Miguel Malvar.
Proclamation No.240 was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on August 18, 2011 to give the people of Malvar in Batangas an opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occassion.
The municipality was named after General Miguel Malvar, the last Filipino General to surrender to the American Government in the Philippines in 1902.
Malvar was born in Barrio San Miguel, Santo Tomas, Batangas, on September 27, 1865.
In 1899, the Philippine-American War broke out and Malvar fought the American forces. Many struggling freedom fighters surrendered while others were captured.
Being the only revolutionary fighting against the enemies, Malvar's resources and strength depleted.
The welfare of his family and loyal soldiers drove him to surrender to General Franklin J. Bell on April 16, 1902. Months after this, the Philippine Commission instituted the civil government of the Philippine Islands.
Malvar returned to his province and pursued his interest in agriculture. A principled man, he declined the offer for him to become governor of Batangas. On October 13, 1911, he died of liver ailment in Manila. He was 46. His remains were brought to Santo Tomas, Batangas and was buried with high military honors. (PCOO)
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Aquino meets Filipino community following his arrival in Japan Sunday
Tokyo, Japan: President Benigno S. Aquino III will meet with the members of the Filipino community on Sunday shortly after his arrival at the Haneda Airport to jumpstart his four-day official working visit here.
The President is expected to arrive at 2:25 p.m. Sunday via Philippine Airlines commercial flight PR 001.
He will be joined by his official delegation led by Secretaries Albert del Rosario (Foreign Affairs), Herminio ‘Sonny’ Coloma, Jr. (Presidential Communications Operations Office), Cesar Purisima (Finance), Manuel Roxas III (Transportation and Communications), Gregory Domingo (Trade and Industry), and Jose Rene Almendras (Energy).
President Aquino will then proceed to the Japan Education Center at 3:50 p.m. for his meeting with the Filipino community. He will be welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez and other Philippine Embassy officials.
The President will be shown an audiovisual presentation on the humanitarian efforts rendered by the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino community when they assisted the victims of the March 11 Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami.
The meeting with President Aquino will feature a cultural dance presentation by Filipino-Japanese children who will likewise present him with a box of ‘tanzaku’ (paper strips). Afterwards, he will deliver a message for the members of the Filipino community. (PCOO)
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Aquino meets with evacuees at Evacuation Center in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Tokyo, Japan: An interaction with the survivors of the March 11 Tohoko earthquake and tsunami who are currently sheltered at the Kadonowaki Evacuation Center in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture tops President Benigno S. Aquino III’s agenda for Monday as part of his official working visit here.
President Aquino is expected to arrive at the Ishinomaki City Hall by 11:00 a.m. and he will be meeting with Ishinomaki City Mayor Hiroshima Kameyama shortly to formally turnover the Philippine government’s donation for his constituents.
Thereafter, President Aquino will be shown around the Kadonowaki evacuation site by the local officials of Ishinomaki City and he may interact with some of the Japanese evacuees there with the help of an interpreter.
Ishinomaki City is one of the localities most severely hit during the onslaught of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami last March 11. About 46 percent of its areas were inundated by the 10-meter tsunami that traveled as far as 600 meters inland.
Another Filipino community gathering awaits President Aquino at the Ishinomaki Catholic Church in Kinder Garden Building where he will also deliver some remarks after Father Takashi Aizu and a FilCom leader give their respective messages.
Wrapping up the President’s activities for Monday is a welcome dinner to be hosted by Marubeni Corporation in preparation for a very hectic schedule the next day.
President Aquino’s bilateral summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will take place on Tuesday along with a string of business meetings with the top executives of various Japanese firms. (PCOO)
