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Sept 3, 2010
By FRED G. GABOT and CLAIRE M. TRUE
MANILA/ NEW YORK (Phil- AmPress) – The first trip of President Benigno S. Aquino III to the United States will push through. Mr. Aquino is set to fly to US on Sept. 20 in time for him to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York City .
The Philippine leader is expected to meet with US President Barack Obama at the sidelights of the UN meeting. In New York , Aquino is expected to touch base with lawyerbusiness leader Loida Nicolas Lewis who is finalizing with Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank there details of a $500 million to $1 billion “Bayan Ko Bonds.”
The debt instrument is to be sold exclusively to Filipinos working or residing in the United States , it was learned. Aquino is also set to hold a road show in US, witness the signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s $434-million grant, and meet with the Philippine Development Foundation to discuss information technology projects.
There is no official confirmation yet of a possible one-on-one meeting at the White House between the two leaders although Obama had invited Aquino to the US when the former called to congratulate him during his election last May. Other US officials who called on Aquino later in Malacanang reiterated Obama’s invitation to visit the White House. Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma stressed that the bloody hostage drama last Aug. 23 at the Luneta will not derail the President’s U.S. trip.
Coloma admitted some delays in the preparations for the US trip as Mr. Aquino later wanted only a short visit of three days. Earlier plans called for visits to New York , Washington , Los Angeles , Seattle and San Francisco and the Silicon Valley . Coloma said the US trip was important since there is high foreign investor confidence in the Philippines .
The President said officials of a multi-national bank based in the United States have already signified their intent to invest in the country. Aquino added his forthcoming trip to the U.S. would solidify the prospective investor’s plans which he said would generate jobs for the Filipino people. Meanwhile, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said only three to four lawmakers will be allowed to join Aquino in his US trip. The House leader said he would limit the number of lawmakers who would be allowed to go with Aquino“para matipid (so we will have less expenses).”