Aquino to Call on Stronger Bond to Achieve MDGs

NEW YORK – President Benigno S. Aquino III’s participation in the 65th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he will call on nations to forge a stronger bond in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), is seen to also spur trust and confidence of the international community to the Philippine government, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) said.

Aquino is scheduled to arrive here Tuesday morning at the Teterboro Airport where he will be met by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy Gaa, Philippine Permanent Mission Representative to the UN Libran Cabactulan, and Philippine Consul-General to New York Cecilia Rebong.

This is the President’s first foreign trip after more than 15 years and as President of the Philippines.

In a press briefing at the Philippine Consulate General’s office here, Cabactulan told members of the media covering the President’s official trip that there are five components in Aquino’s visit.

The first, being the community component where he will have a dialogue with Filipinos here and tell them about the plans and programs of his administration; second, his meeting with those in the business sector which is seen to generate trade and investment for the country; third is the meeting of Association of Southeast Nation (ASEAN) Leaders and the United States; and fourth, his bilateral meetings with certain countries.

All four components, he said, will swing around the 5th component which is why he is here and that is his engagement in the UNGA, where he will meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and at the same time deliver a speech.

Philippine officials here said that as the international community continues to battle with global challenges such as climate change and flu pandemics, Aquino is expected to call on nations to further strengthen coordination and cooperation at the 65th UNGA.

Aquino won’t meet Obama
There will no bilateral meeting between President Benigno S. Aquino III and United States President Barack Obama, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Secretary Ramon “Ricky” Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) said Aquino would only meet Obama on Sept. 24 at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-US Leaders Meeting after the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

Roxas join US trip
Malacañang also defended the inclusion of former Sen. Manuel Roxas III, President Aquino's senior adviser, in the business delegation to the United States.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Roxas, being a former New York-based banker, can help Aquino during his meetings with US business executives.

Elena Aben, Manila Bulletin