President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left this morning for Laos to attend the three-day (November 28–30) 10^th regional summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The President took a chartered Philippine Airlines flight at 8:00 a.m. from Villamor Air Base to Vientiane, Laos, along with a 50-member official delegation.

In a pre-departure statement, the President said that as in her previous trips abroad, she would explore job possibilities for Filipino workers in the other ASEAN-member countries, look for opportunities for small-scale businesses, and seek ways to increase Philippine exports and boost the country’s tourism industry.

"That’s my aim as I leave today for the ASEAN summit today in Laos," she said.

She pointed out that in a "region where poverty is a common enemy, ASEAN’s response is the full integration of East Asia and strong linkages with the rest of the world."

"Our vision is to have by 2020 an ASEAN community enlivened by the free flow of goods, services, investments and skilled labor, and the free flow of capital," the President said.

She said that ASEAN leaders would meet together with leaders of China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand to expand the depth and scope of economic cooperation.

"I will tell them that what the Philippines needs to be a strong partner for regional prosperity and peace," she said.

She emphasized that the Philippines would continue to integrate its domestic and international policy framework to ensure that every international arrangement entered into by the government redounds to jobs for the Filipinos.

The President stressed that in the domestic front, the urgent tasks continue. "We are putting our fiscal house in order so that we can grow our economy and create jobs. We are putting the calamity-stricken communities back to their feet, we are tying up the safety nets to insulate our people from the wide-ranging impact of steep oil prices," she added.

The Chief Executive vowed that she would continue to "attend to these concerns, even while I’m in the ASEAN summit. Hindi ako mapapagod, hindi ako magliligoy-ligoy mamumuno ako sa bansa sa abot ng aking kakayahan sa pamamagitan ng bawat oportunidad at hamon," she said.

The ASEAN member-countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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VIENTIANE, Laos -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today paid tribute to the Filipino community in Lao People’s Democratic Republic for their contribution to the economy of the Philippines and their host country.

Addressing members of the Filipino community here, the President said she was thankful for their help in increasing the international reserves of the Philippines through their remittances to their families back home.

"Aside from being the pride of the Philippines, you always think about your love ones in the country. You religiously send remittances to your families and with these remittances, you not only support your families but also help our country increase its international reserves," she said.

The President said the Philippine is beset with the twin problems of corruption and the budget deficit, which continue to hamper the country’s progress.

The President said that she has taken decisive steps to stop corruption both in the government and civilian sectors, citing as example the two generals of the armed forces who have been charged in court for alleged corrupt practices.

She added that over the years the budget deficit worsened because in the absence of locally-sourced funds the government secured foreign loans to finance its projects.

The Chief Executive urged the Filipino expatriate workers to send $20 on top of their regular remittances to their families to help boost the international reserves of the country.

She also complimented the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for acting as "advertisements" of all the things that the Philippines can be proud of.

She added that even Lao PDR President Khamtay Siphandone acknowledged the contribution of the Filipino workers to his country’s economy.

"I came here to thank you all, and because today is the first Sunday of Advent, may I also greet you an advance Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year," the President said.

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