President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will embark Sunday on an 8-day visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada and the United States in a continuing effort to strengthen bilateral, economic and friendly ties between the Philippines and each of the three countries.

In a press conference held this afternoon at the Hotel Inter-Continental Manila, the Chief Executive said she has always been confident whenever she leaves for a foreign trip to renew friendship with the country’s allies and promote the Philippines as an investment haven.

The President said that during her trip to New York, she will be speaking before the World Economic Forum (WEF), which she was originally scheduled to be held in Davos.

WEF serves as a platform for discussion, debate and action on the key issues on the global agenda. Supported by 1,000 of the foremost international companies, the Forum engages business and society in partnership to improve the state of the world.

During her stay in New York City, the President said she will take the opportunity also to launch the roadshow on the privatization of the power sector.

According to the President, her visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be a short one on the way to the American continent.

"I’ll just take the Atlantic route rather than the Pacific route to have a few hours with Prime Minister (Tony) Blair regarding terrorism and poverty," she said.

She pointed out the Blair is one of the leaders of the world who, like her, "keep putting together the link between terrorism and poverty."

One of the specific missions she wants to bring to the UK, the President stressed was what she told the Chinese community before, "that I’ll be getting training from Scotland Yard for our policemen regarding organized crimes, including kidnapping."

The President also said her trip to Canada is a state visit upon the invitation of the Canadian Prime Minister.

She described Canada as "one of our friends, investment partners, trading partners, source of ODA (Official Development Assistance)."

The Chief Executive, who will leave Manila on Sunday (January 27) on board a Cathay Pacific flight, will be accompanied by First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo and a small group of Cabinet members and government officials.

In London, her first stop, President will attend a lecture at the prestigious International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

The President’s trip to London will be highlighted by separate meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

During her meeting with Blair at 10 the Prime Minister’s office, Downing Street, the President is expected discuss the country's support for the international coalition against terrorism as well as to seek the assistance of Scotland Yard for the training of members of the National Police in the fight against criminality.

While in London, the President will also attend a Luncheon Meeting at the Long Parlour of the Mansion House hosted by the Corporation of the City of London.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo will also attend an Ecumenical Service at the Westminster Cathedral where members of the Filipino community in London will be in attendance.

Her brief sortie to Ottawa and Toronto in Canada, will be capped by a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

The President is also scheduled to meet the Filipino community in Canada where she is expected to inform them of the ongoing developments in the Philippines under her one-year-old administration.

She will also meet with Canadian business leaders and members of the Canadian-Filipino business community.

From Canada, the President will fly to New York to address the World Economic Forum (WEF).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to meet with top world leaders led by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres when she embarks tomorrow on an 8-day visit to London, Canada and the United States.

The President, along with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and a lean group of Cabinet members and other high-ranking government officials, will depart for London, the first stop of her three-nation tour, at 8:30 pm on board a regular Cathay Pacific flight.

According to the President, her visit to the United Kingdom will be a short one where she will discuss with Blair pertinent issues about terrorism and poverty.

Both leaders share a common stand about the link between terrorism and poverty.

Also topping her agenda in London is to seek assistance from the Scotland Yard for the training of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the fight against organized crime, particularly kidnapping.

Aside from the one-on-one meeting with Blair, the President will also have a separate meeting with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

While in the British capital, the President will attend the lecture hosted by the prestigious International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS).

The Chief Executive will also attend a luncheon meeting at the Long Parlour of the Mansion House hosted by the Corporation of the City of London.

Also on the same day, she will speak before the Commercial Seminar and grace a dinner hosted by Her Majesty’s government led by Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State John Prescott at the Sate Dining Room of the Lancaster House.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo will also attend an ecumenical service at the Westminster Cathedral which where members of the Filipino community in London will be in attendance.

From London, the President will proceed to Ottawa and Toronto, Canada that will be highlighted by a meeting with Prime Minister Chretien.

Part of her itinerary will be a visit to the large Filipino community in Canada where she is expected to inform them on the ongoing developments in the Philippines under her one-year-old administration.

The President said her trip to Canada is a state visit upon the invitation of the Canadian Prime Minister.

The President cited the importance of Canada as a friend of the Philippines, an investment partner, trading partner and a source of overseas development assistance (ODA).

During her Ottawa visit, the President will attend a luncheon hosted by Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada and His Excellency, John Ralston Saul.

In an effort to attract more Canadian investors to do business in the Philippines, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo will meet with the Canadian business leaders. She will also meet with the Canadian-Filipino business leaders in a breakfast meeting.

In Toronto, the President will attend a head table reception hosted by the presidents of the Empire Club and Canadian Club and will address the same organization during lunch.

Other activities of the President in Toronto will be a meeting with Canadian business leaders at the IT Networking Session; a media interview by National Post and other media entities in Canada; and a meeting with the Canadian-Filipino community.

After which, the President will fly to New York to address the World Economic Forum (WEF).

WEF, which is based in Davos, Switzerland, serves as a platform for discussion, debate and action on the key issues on the global agenda. Supported by 1,000 of the foremost international companies, the WEF engages business and society in partnership to improve the state of the world.

While in New York City, the President will take the opportunity to launch the road show on the privatization of the power sector.

She will also visit Jersey City or Queens and Chicago.

While in New York, the President will personally meet with Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres of the State of Israel and will also meet with the New York Times editorial board and will address the investment round table luncheon.

In Jersey City, the President will visit the Filipino-American business establishments and will attend the forum, "Leadership in Fragile Times: a Vision for a Shared Future," sponsored by the WEF.

The President will also receive John Donner, chairman of the Interpublic Group and Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, chairman of Nestle as well as Robert Walton, chief executive officer of Walmart who will call on her separately.

She will also be interviewed by FOX and the CNN, meet with the International Advisory Board, and attend a dinner hosted by the US-ASEAN Business Council.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, two world leaders who were among the first to throw their support behind United States President George W. Bush’s call for a war against international terrorism, will meet in London tomorrow night (Manila time) to discuss the global scourge that has sent the world’s economies into a tailspin after the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.

All three leaders – Macapagal-Arroyo, Blair and Bush – agree that the fight against terrorism should be waged alongside the war against poverty.

The President will actually have the opportunity to present the Philippine government’s position on the intertwined wars against global terrorism and poverty before at least three international forums and in meetings with at least three other world leaders.

The President will be delivering policy statements before the World Economic Forum, the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Empire Club during her visits to the United Kingdom, the US and Canada from January 28 to February 3.

She will also be holding meetings with Prime Minister Blair, Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

"Blair is one of the leaders in the world who, like me, keep putting together the link between terrorism and poverty," President Macapagal-Arroyo said Friday.

President Bush, in a radio address to the nation on Saturday, likewise linked terrorism and poverty, pledging to the American people: "We'll work to create jobs and renew the strength of our economy.  We'll protect our people in every way necessary, and we will carry on the campaign against global terror until we achieve our goal:  The peace that comes from victory."

The Philippine President also said that during her one-on-one meeting with Blair at 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s Office, one specific mission she wants to bring before the British government is the training of members of the Philippine National Police in Scotland Yard, particularly for the fight against organized crime, including kidnapping.

Before meeting with Blair, the President will make a policy statement before the International Institute for Strategic Studies, an independent center for research, information and debate on the problems of conflict. The work of the institute, whose membership is based in over 100 countries, is grounded in an appreciation of the various political, economic and social problems that can lead to instability as well as factors that can lead to international cooperation. 

While in London, the President will also receive former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, dubbed the "Iron Lady" at the peak of her power in the 1980s.

Mrs. Thatcher, 76, has just fully recovered from what her daughter called a "very, very mild" stroke she suffered shortly before the New Year while she and her husband, Dennis, were on holiday on the island of Madeira celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

In New York, the President will also address the World Economic Forum which will debate the theme "Leadership in Fragile Times: A Vision for a Shared Future."

The central theme of the World Economic Forum, which was originally scheduled to be held in Davos, Switzerland, is complemented by six core themes, including "Reducing Poverty and Improving Equity."

The World Economic Forum, based in Geneva, is an independent organization committed to improving the state of the world and is funded by the contributions of 1,000 of the world's foremost corporations.

LONDON, Jan. 27 (Via PLDT)—Programs to attract foreign investments are expected to get a big boost when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo interacts with officers of London-based companies on Monday, January 28.

Though she will be staying here just for one day, the President has managed to maximize her visit to the United Kingdom by squeezing into her hectic schedule a luncheon with officials of top city companies hosted by the Corporation of the City of London.

Organized by the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Michael Oliver, the luncheon will be held at the Long Parlour of the Mansion House.

London boasts of being home to 375 of the top 500 global companies. The world's big five accountancy agencies have major headquarters in the city while the world's largest advertising group and Reuters, the purveyors of information to the world's financial markets, have their main offices here.

The city's maritime companies also service 50 percent of the worldwide tanker chartering business and 30 to 40 percent of the dry bulk business.

While in London, the President, a noted doctor of Economics, will also deliver a speech in a commercial seminar at the Great George St.

LONDON, Jan 27 (Via PLDT)— A tight working schedule awaits President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo here, forcing the workaholic Chief Executive to maximize her overnight stay in Britain.

Barely four hours after her plane touches down at London’s Heathrow International Airport, the President is scheduled to receive Lord Grocott, the Lord-in-Waitiing to her Majesty the Queen, at the Presidential Suite in Dorchester Hotel on Monday, January 28.

After the welcome call of the Lord Grocott, the President is scheduled to give a lecture at the International Institute for Strategic Studies at the Arundel House.

From there, the President will proceed to 10 Downing Street for a meetiing with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The President will later go to the Mansion House for a luncheon hosted by the Corporation of the City of London, particularly the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Michael Oliver.

Expected to join the President and the Lord Mayor are officers of the top city companies and some of the officials accompanying the visiting Chief Executive on her visit to the United Kingdom.

During the luncheon, the President is expected to deliver brief remarks and offer a toast.

From the Mansion House, the President is scheduled to proceed to Great George St. to deliver a speech at a commercial seminar.

After that, the President will head off to the Westminster Cathedral to attend an ecumenical service.

Later in the day, the President will be meeting with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, followed by a business call on her by National Grid.

In the evening, the President will be honored with a dinner at the Lancaster House State Dining Room to be hosted by her Majesty's government.

With no less than British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott as her host, the President and some of the Philippine officials accompanying her to her UK trip are expected to be treated to a royal toast for the Queen and the visiting head of state.

But her day will not end with the dinner, as she is still scheduled to give a press briefing at around 10 p.m. (London time).

LONDON, England (Via PLDT) A large contingent of the Filipino community here is expected to join President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during an ecumenical service at the Westminster Cathedral on Victoria Street here in London tomorrow, January 28.

The President, together with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and a small delegation of Cabinet and other top government officials, will be arriving here tomorrow on board a British Airways flight from Manila.

London is the first stop of the President’s eight-day visit that would also take her to Ottawa and Toronto in Canada, as well as in New York and Chicago in the United States.

This is her first visit to the United Kingdom as President.

The Filipino community here is estimated to number about 100,000 with the influx of thousands of nurses given work permits by the British government to fill up vacancies in the health services and other sectors.

Philippine Embassy officials said some 20,000 nurses are currently deployed in various hospitals and care centers here.

Upon her arrival at the Westminster Cathedral, the President will be met by Archbishop Andrew Comic Murphy-O’Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster, to be followed by a procession of ecumenical guests led by Bishop Arthur Roche.

The President will deliver a message on peace and unity during the ecumenical service. She will be introduced by Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Cesar Bautista.

Another part of the ceremony at the Cathedral will be the reading of Intercessions by leaders of different faith and a Filipino community representative.

Bishop Roche will also lead in the reading of the commitment to peace.

At the latter part of the ecumenical service will be the singing of "Bayan Ko," one of the most popular Filipino folk songs written by Jose Corazon de Jesus, with music by Constancio de Guzman.

The Westminster Cathedral was designed in the Early Christian Byzantine style by the Victorian architect John Francis Bentley.

The Cathedral’s foundation stone was laid in 1895 and the fabric of the building was completed eight years later. Its awesome interior contains fine marble works and mosaics. Inside the Church are the 14 Stations of the Cross which are world-famous.

The highlight of the President’s visit here in the United Kingdom will be the one-one-one meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street.

Both leaders are expected to discuss issues regarding the efforts of the international community to combat terrorism.

The Philippines is one of first countries that strongly supported the United Nations resolution on terrorism.

In the same meeting, the President is also expected to seek the assistance of Scotland Yard in the training of the Philippine National Police members for the fight against criminality, especially kidnapping.

LONDON, England (Via PLDT) – The visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo here will send a good signal for more investments in the Philippines.

This was the positive assessment made by Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Cesar Bautista on Sunday during an interview with reporters at the Philippine Embassy here.

Bautista said the President’s presence in the United Kingdom would also facilitate further discussions on various agreements that are already in the pipeline.

He said the expected agreements for this year between the Philippines and the United Kingdom are estimated at about US$3 billion.

"When you talk about investment, I think the President’s visit here would signal that we have more investments that are forthcoming," Bautista said.

For the last 10 years, Britain has been one of the leading investors in the Philippines, with major British companies taking active roles in important infrastructure projects in the country.

The single largest British investment project in the Philippines at present is the development of the Malampaya offshore gas field being undertaken by Shell Company which is also currently the largest natural gas project worldwide.

No less than President Macapagal-Arroyo was the guest of honor and speaker during the inauguration of the Malampaya project in Batangas last year.

In year 2000, the United Kingdom was the Philippines’ 11^th trading partner, accounting for 2.68 percent of the total Philippine trade with the world or some US$69.465 million.

Bautista said Philippines exports to the UK are concentrated on steel, technology and electronics products.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left last night for an eight-day visit to the United Kingdom, Canada and United States in a bid to win support for the country’s twin war against poverty and terrorism.

In her departure speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the President said she hopes to win more confidence and support for the Philippines as the global scenario rapidly changes from all-out war to all-out consolidation.

Noting that Afghanistan is in the process of restoring peace before the big push of nation building, the President said the prize that all nations seek is peace, stability and growth.

"The theater of conflict has shifted elsewhere and now, we are in the map once again not just because of our resilient economy but because we have support in our fight against terrorism in some isolated parts of Southern Philippines," she said.

The President said the process that started from massive armed action in Afghanistan, which has transformed into peacekeeping and will eventually shift to nation-building, "will be a consistent point of global focus."

"This transition of strategic policy from interdiction of terrorists to development as a means to inoculate the global order against terrorism is necessary to achieve a permanent and comprehensive solution that shall defeat terrorism and its twin, poverty," she said.

The President said she is a firm believer that the solution to poverty is indispensable to the resolution of irrational violence, "not because of Afghanistan but because we have seen it in our own history of conflict."

The President said this is the reason why she spends most of the time with the poor communities as "the masses need constant and continuing care concern leadership."

"Once again the twin war against poverty and terrorism marks my journey, to UK, Canada and to the United States," she said.

Along with First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel T. Arroyo and a small group of Cabinet members and other high-ranking government officials, the President boarded a regular commercial Cathay Pacific flight at 8:30 p.m.

According to the President, her visit to the United Kingdom will be a short one where she will discuss with Blair pertinent issues about terrorism and poverty. Both leaders share a common stand about the link between terrorism and poverty.

While in London, she will also seek assistance from the Scotland Yard for the training of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the fight against organized crime, particularly kidnapping.

The President will also have a separate meeting with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo will also attend an ecumenical service at the Westminster Cathedral where members of the Filipino community in London will be in attendance.

From London, the President will proceed to Ottawa and Toronto, Canada that will be highlighted by a meeting with Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Part of her itinerary will be a visit to the large Filipino community in Canada where she is expected to inform them on the ongoing developments in the Philippines under her one-year-old administration.

The President said her trip to Canada is a state visit upon the invitation of the Canadian Prime Minister.

The President cited the importance of Canada as a friend of the Philippines, an investment partner, trading partner and a source of overseas development assistance (ODA).

In an effort to attract more Canadian investors to do business in the Philippines, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo will meet with the Canadian business leaders. She will also meet with the Canadian-Filipino business leaders in a breakfast meeting.

After that, the President will fly to New York to address the World Economic Forum (WEF).

LONDON (Via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here today on the first leg of her 8-day trip to the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States in a mission to forge stronger bilateral relations between the Philippines and the three countries.

The President, along with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and other top government officials, arrived at the London Heathrow International Airport at around 5:05 a.m. (1:05 p.m. in Manila) on board the regular British Airways flight 26.

The President and her official party were welcomed at the airport’s Royal Suite by John Garner, representative of Britain’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, British Ambassador to the Philippines Allan Collins, Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Cesar Bautista, and the envoys of the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Chief Executive and her delegation immediately motored to the Dorchester Hotel located at the Park Lane in Central London where she was met by a group of embassy officials and representatives of the large Filipino community here.

This is her first visit to the United Kingdom as President of the Philippines.

The highlights of the President’s 29-hour stay here in the UK includes her separate meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a policy speech before the prestigious International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a luncheon with the Corporation of the City of London led by the Lord Mayor Alderman Michael Oliver, and a dinner to be hosted by Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State John Prescott.

She will also speak before the Philippine Trade and Investment Business Briefing organized by the International Financial Services of London (IFSL).

On top of this, the President will meet with a large contingent of the Filipino community during an ecumenical service at the Westminster Cathedral at Victoria Street in downtown London.

LONDON (Via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead a prayer for peace, unity and prosperity during an ecumenical service to be held at 11:15 p.m. (Manila time) at the Westminster Cathedral on Victoria Street here.

The President, who arrived here early this afternoon on the first leg of her eight-day and three-nation trip, is also expected to pay her tribute to thousands of Filipino migrant workers here who will be attending the ecumenical service.

Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom and the Northern Ireland Cesar Bautista said the Filipino community here, composed mostly of nurses and other professional groups, are excited to meet the President who is here on her first visit as President.

In her previous trips abroad, the President made it a point to speak before Filipino communities to thank them for their contribution to the Philippine economy and to brief them about developments in the country.

The President’s message to her kababayans here will be followed by the singing of "Bayan Ko," a popular Filipino nationalistic song written by Jose Corazon de Jesus with music by Constancio de Guzman.

According to Bautista, the number of Filipino workers here has dramatically increased over the years, augmenting UK’s human resource requirements in health, information technology, aviation, education and similar sectors.

At present, the Philippines is the biggest source of nurses in the United Kingdom.

Bautista said the Filipino workers here, especially the nurses, are earning between 15,000-20,000 pounds sterling, depending on their length of service.

The ambassador said Filipino workers here are respected because they are generally talented, with good work ethics, peace loving, religious and God-fearing, generous and civic oriented.

Last January 8, the Philippines signed an agreement with the United Kingdom ensuring the fair and equitable employment of nurses from the Philippines in London’s National Health Services (NHS) department.

The agreement between the governments of the Philippines and UK, which was worked out by the NHS and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), is the first of its kind between the two countries.

It ensures an equitable and ethical approach to the employment of Filipino nurses in terms of their recruitment and selection.

According to Bautista, Filipinos with top academic qualifications have found their way into important executive positions in some of Britain’s leading institutions and non-government organizations such as the British Council, World Association of Girl Guides, International Alert, Amnesty International, Catholic Institute for International Relations, and British Volunteer Service Overseas.

LONDON (Via PLDT) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed here early Tuesday (Manila time) the signing of a lease agreement on a 90-hectare land in Clark, Pampanga that will soon be the site of a world-class aircraft maintenance operations center in Asia.

The agreement was signed by Clark Development Authority (CDA) officials led by Emmanuel Angeles, CDA president, and their counterparts in MACE Limited, one of the United Kingdom's international management consultancy firms.

The aircraft maintenance facility will be constructed inside the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport Civil Aviation Complex in Clark Field, Pampanga complete with a full-range of support infrastructure and services that include regular maintenance checks and repainting; passenger to freighter conversions; aircraft repairs, hangar parking; and training academy.

The facility will cater to both commercial and military aircraft, and is positioned to meet the anticipated shortfall in aircraft maintenance facilities by the year 2004 and onwards.

It will also help address the anticipated growth in passenger air travel in the Asia Pacific region in the coming years.

The project, with an estimated cost of $850 million, will be built over a period of seven to nine years following a three phase development program, including the construction of 12 to 14 hangar bays.

Each hangar bay will cover 36,000 square meters of real estate with 16,000 sq. m. for the hangar and 20,000 sq.m. for apron support buildings and other external works.

The project is expected to provide 9,000 direct jobs and 38,000 indirect jobs. It also requires additional indirect jobs from designing, manufacturing and transport of numerous materials and components required.

The estimated 47,000 direct and indirect jobs expected to be generated by the project does not include the expected employment from the proposed aviation school.

LONDON (Via PLDT) – Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher gave here early Tuesday (Manila time) some tips to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on how to address some of the country’s problems even as she expressed confidence that Asia’s Iron Lady will do well in all her undertakings.

Mrs. Thatcher, now known as Baroness Thatcher who remains powerful in the United Kingdom, called on the President at her suite at the Dorchester Hotel here.

"I am very pleased that you are now president. You have all my good wishes. I will watch everything that goes on. I’m sure all will go well," she told the President during their 45-minute talk.

The President said she looks at Mrs. Thatcher as a model "for the rest of us to follow".

Mrs. Thatcher said the growing global population is a concern that can be addressed by providing the people with quality education.

"We have to get the very best teachers, particularly in mathematics and science, to do the course. We might have a better chance if we get good mathematics teachers," she stressed.

The President affirmed the same commitment when she said her administration had begun providing distance learning for basic courses in far-flung villages all over the Philippines.

Mrs. Thatcher lamented that most of the world’s problems are now being fought through wars, a manner that she described as "so uncivilized".

"We must instead feed the people, get them jobs and build them houses," the President said.

LONDON (Via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated Monday noontime (Manila time) British Prime Minister Tony Blair for adding the interfaith dialogue as a new dimension in fighting terrorism.

The President relayed her message to Blair during their one-on-one meeting at the 10 Downing Street in downtown London.

She likewise lauded the British Prime Minister for the stress that the latter is giving on the inter-linkage on the war against terrorism and the war against poverty.

"As you know I have also been stressing that and he has been stressing that, too," the President told reporters in an ambush interview outside the 10 Downing Street shortly after meeting with Blair.

The President disclosed that a few days ago, Blair had completed his own interfaith dialogue among the various religious groups in the United Kingdom.

She recalled that during her trip to Mexico last year, she also proposed the interfaith dialogue with some other heads of states who were present in one of the major gatherings that she attended.

In their meeting, the President said Blair asked her how the United Kingdom would be able to help the Philippines in its own participation in the international war against terrorism.

In response, she told Mr. Blair that the Philippines would like to have Scotland Yard to assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) in fighting organized crime, including kidnapping which is also one of the principal tools used by terrorist groups in the country.

The President also informed the British leader on the country’s own war against poverty in the areas where terrorism exists.

"I told him about Basilan which also happens to be the poorest province in the whole country from the point of view of human development index, which means longevity, per capita income and literacy rate," she said.

LONDON (Via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday (early Tuesday in Manila) conveyed her invitation to the business community here to invest in the Philippines, citing her administration’s adherence to a long-term vision, predictable and stable rules of the game, and reform-oriented rules and policies.

The President made this strong pitch in a speech before the Philippine Trade and Investment Business Briefing held at the One Great George Street here.

The event was organized by the Trade Partners UK and the International Financial Services London (IFSL).

In her speech, the President stressed that it is the goal of her administration to further strengthen its ties with European investors, saying that Europe as a whole is now the country’s second highest trading partner overtaking Japan.

Last year, she said the Philippines was heartened by the strong reception to the 500 million worth of Euro bonds, proceeds of which are now on loan to the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR).

"We are promoting fast-growing industries where high-value jobs are most plentiful and which can use our most competitive resource – the great Filipino worker," the President told the business executives here.

While foreign investments in the Philippines have been dominated by the Americans and the Japanese over the years, the President noted that British investors have recently been in the forefront as more companies now follow British pioneers, such as Unilever, British Gas, Glaxo, and United Biscuits.

In the year 2000, some 47 percent of total foreign investments in the Philippines came from the United Kingdom, topped by US$4.5 billion investment of Shell in the Malampaya gas project.

Moreover, the President said total trade between the Philippines and the UK has been growing at an impressive rate of 12 percent per annum for the past six years.

Philippine goods going to the UK, meanwhile, have increased by 18.31 percent per annum, in line with the increasing competitiveness of the country’s technology products.

The President noted that the Philippines, despite the harsh economic environment of 2001, was successful in putting the economy back on its feet.

"Where bigger and richer economies failed, ours moved forward. Where bigger and stronger currencies collapsed, ours held firm," she said.

Citing the passage of vital legislations under her administration such as the Power Reform Bill and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the President stressed that much of what the world’s investment community has asked of the Philippines have been thus far delivered.

"The Power Reform Bill and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, long considered as litmus tests of our political will to legislate reforms, were put into law, firmly overcoming years of delay," she said.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo explained that while the country’s public deficit has been placed under control, interest rates, inflation and even unemployment rates have also declined.

The Philippine economic plan, she said, recognizes that sound macroeconomics should always be conditioned to achieve sustained ground level results.

On the aspect of monetary management, the President said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has effectively stamped out the speculative activity that has hurt so many of the world’s economies.

Despite the substantial gains achieved under her one-year old administration, the President said much work remains to be done, namely, to work with the international community to root out terrorism; return the reputation of Manila and the Philippines as a welcoming and safe place to live and do business in; and to increase the benefits from the country’s new global relevance and engagement after years of being isolated and adrift.

LONDON (Via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo outlined yesterday morning (6 p.m. in Manila) a five-point agenda in turning the power of the global anti-terror campaign into a force for global prosperity.

In her speech before the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) at the Arundel House here, the President said part of the process of fighting terrorism and poverty is to reconcile the concerns of developing countries with the perspectives of the developed economies.

First, she said, the agenda must address what has been called the silent emergency in the world today – the plight of the poorest of the poor who live on the edge of famine, disease, illiteracy and despair.

Developed and developing nations, she added, "should mount together a concerted effort to turn the situation around."

"The humanitarian effort now being carried out in Afghanistan must be replicated in many other distressed areas," the President said.

Second, she said, the agenda must promote greater trade between developed and developing countries that must be used for poverty reduction and development.

The President pointed out that trade liberalization can mean billions of dollars to poor countries, even as she noted that developed countries continue to exercise protectionism.

"We should seize the new round of multilateral negotiations under the WTO (World Trade Organization) as an opportunity to make trade serve development," she said.

Third, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said, the agenda must encourage the flow of greater capital from the developed to the developing countries, adding that foreign direct investment -- and the technology transfer that it brings -- stimulate development in poor countries.

To make it happen, the President suggested that developing countries must open their economies to foreign investments.

"In turn, foreign companies and capital must get more engaged in developing countries that upgrade their policies and standards," she stressed.

Fourth, the President said, the agenda should also supplement debt restructuring with an increased level of financial aid, even as she lauded the proposed creation of an investment fund of US$50 billion a year to help boost the developing countries.

Finally, she pointed out that the agenda must actively support institutional capacity-building in the developing countries to improve governance, empower civil society, increase transparency, and promote openness and pluralism.

According to the President, weak administrative capacity hobbles many poor countries.

"It is not an accident that terrorism thrives in failed societies, in communities where government has failed and citizens are alienated," she said.

For this new initiative to succeed, the President agreed that both developing and developed countries must accept new responsibilities to go with the new opportunities.

Poor countries, she said, must meet the challenge of adopting standards of transparency and accountability and building market economies so as to become real partners in investment and trade.

On the other hand, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said, developed countries must recognize their duty to open their markets, transfer resources and reform international institutions.

She likewise stressed that the entire agenda will work "only if infused with a real spirit of cooperation."

During the visit to London of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 28 January the threats to the international community from terrorism and organized crime were discussed.

The Governments of the Republic of the Philippines and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland viewed with satisfaction the programme of action which had followed the 1997 memorandum of understanding of law enforcement cooperation and combating child abuse. In particular, they welcomed the continuing programme of training in the Philippines for law enforcement officers dealing with serious crimes against children.

The decision of the Republic of the Philippines to offer Manila as the venue for an EU-ASEAN Conference on Maritime Security on 25-26 February 2002 was welcomed. The agenda for the conference would include action against piracy, armed robbery, terrorism and other transnational maritime crimes.

The Governments of the Republic of the Philippines and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recognized that the international nature of terrorism and of much organized crimes required close cooperation among law enforcement agencies. The provision of well trained and competent law enforcement personnel was essential. In this regard, both governments undertook to consider further cooperation and training to combat terrorism and to tackle organize crimes such as kidnapping.

Such assistance might include the provision of skills training of Philippine law enforcement personnel in the Philippines; expert assistance in developing the curriculum and training methods at the relevant law enforcement training establishments and appropriate training courses in the United Kingdom.

LONDON (via PLDT) -- The head of the Asia-Pacific advisers to British International Trade has predicted a significant increase in investments and trade between the Philippines and the United Kingdom, after hearing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's report on her country's economic health.

Reacting to President Macapagal-Arroyo’s speech on the state of the Philippine economy during the Philippine Trade and Investment Business Briefing Monday, Sir Anthony Cleaver said the President's visit to the UK, particularly her discussion on the state of the Philippine economy and its prospects for growth, may convince more British investors to infuse capital and increase the level of trade with the Philippines.

The UK is the Philippines' biggest trading partner in Europe and the 11^th in the entire world, according to 2000 statistics.

UK is also the seventh largest export market for Philippine products with a share of 3.96 percent of total Philippine exports to the world. It is also the 17th source for Philippine imports, accounting for 1.13 percent of the total imports of US $31,386 million.

During the business briefing, the President and Energy Secretary Vicente Perez told the British businessmen that the Philippine economy still manage to post modest growth despite the global economic slowdown that has been aggravated by the September 11 terror attacks on the United States.

"While many of the export based economies continued to reel from the global weakness, the Philippines has shown much resilience and is growing at a modest pace," Perez said.

The President also noted that her administration has undertaken economic reforms that resulted in "improving fiscal outlook" and has allowed the Philippines to "achieve good macroeconomic levels."

After presenting the impressive economic indicators recorded by the their country even at a time of global economic slowdown, the President and Perez called on the British businessmen to invest in the Philippines.

LONDON (via PLDT) – Prime Minister Tony Blair has admitted the need for G-7 countries (industrialized nations) to provide assistance in developing Mindanao to enable the Philippine government to fight poverty and address the root cause of terrorism in the Philippines.

Emerging from a 30-minute bilateral meeting with Blair on Monday at 10 Downing Street, UK’s seat of political power, President Macapagal-Arroyo said the Prime Minister has offered to extend help to the Philippines in winning its own battle against terrorism.

At the meeting, the President said she discussed with Blair her theory that the reason Basilan has become the homebase of the Abu Sayyaf is that they could easily recruit members and gain support of residents in an area where there is limited development and the people have very little access to education and information.

She added that she also discussed with Blair ongoing assistance being eyed by the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in developing Mindanao to enable the Philippines to fight poverty and ultimately address the problem of terrorism.

The President said the Prime Minister noted the need for other developed economies to do the same. "He agreed that while we have the IMF, the World Bank, doing war against poverty with their assistance, he feels that G-7 should also be more active on this," she said.

The President said the Blair himself took the initiative to offer help to the Philippines, during their talks.

"He asked how the UK could help the Philippines in our own fight against terrorism," the President said.

LONDON (via PLDT) -- After the official activities of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her 29-hour working visit to the United Kingdom, the Philippine ambassador here predicted an increase of $2 billion to $3 billion in UK investments to the Philippines.

At a press briefing late Monday night (early Tuesday in Manila) Philippine Ambassador to the UK Cesar Bautista forecasts that UK investments in the Philippines is likely to increase by $2 billion to $3 billion this year.

"The UK will remain to be a biggest investor of the Philippines for this year and for the coming year," Bautista said, citing the forecast of experts who have been involved in negotiations between the two countries’ private sectors.

While he admitted that the agreements between these private parties have yet to be formally signed, Bautista explained that the formal documents would come later, stressing that "many of them (British investors) were very keen (in investing in the Philippines)."

He said apart from the $800 million investments from UK for the year, the figure could likely go up by $2 billion or $3 billion.

"That is the kind of interest we have seen so far between British and Philippine business leaders," he said.

At the business briefing conducted by Energy Secretary Vicente Perez before members of the Trade Partners UK in collaboration with the International Financial Services Ltd., and Asia House, the Philippine government noted that "British investors have taken a leading role in the Philippines over recent years."

"Investments in the Philippines from the UK include those of the Unilever, Sehll, Jardine, HSBC (Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp.), Standard Chartered, British Gas, Glaxo, BAT, and United Biscuits," Perez said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ended her 29-hour visit to London, her first as President, which Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao described as "hectic but highly successful."

Interviewed by Radyo ng Bayan from Manila, Tiglao, who is with the presidential party, said that it was just amazing how the President was able to squeeze in so much activities in her one day visit to London.

Tiglao said that just in one day, the President delivered five major speeches and had seven important meetings, capped by her one-on-one with British Prime Minister Tony Blair where the two leaders discussed ways on how to fight global terrorism.

"Pagod siya, pagod kaming lahat, pero kinakailangan ito ng ating bayan (She was tired, we were all tired, but we have to do this for the sake of our country)," Tiglao said.

Tiglao said that despite numerous problems in the country, the President was able to project the image of the Philippines in her working visits abroad.

"Nagagawa ng Pangulo natin na i-project ang Pilipinas sa mundo. Napaka-importante nito. Hindi na tayo isang isolated country (The President was able to project the Philippines in the world. This is very important. We are no longer an isolated country)," Tiglao said.

According to Tiglao, the President was able to develop immediate rapport with Blair on the issue of global terrorism, saying that the two leaders believe that military might alone can not wipe out terrorism.

Both the President and Blair agreed that there is a need to fight poverty in order to win the war against terrorism, Tiglao said.

Toward this end, Blair had assured the President that the United Kingdom, one of the world’s richest countries, will work for the increase of the official development assistance (ODA) from the developed nations to developing countries like the Philippines, Tiglao said.

Tiglao said that during the ecumenical service attended by the President at the Westminster Cathedral in London, members of the Filipino community in London, who filled up the church, were all excited to see the President.

The message of the service, which was participated in by representatives of the Catholic Church, Protestants, Muslims and Hindus, expressed support for the President and the Philippines, Tiglao said.

The President, Tiglao said, had also "a very animated and very friendly" conversation with former British Prime Minister Magaret Thatcher which, he said, lasted for 45 minutes, when the schedule was for only 20 minutes.

During their meeting, Tiglao said, the President was like a student who got some pointers on governance from the former British leader, the original "Iron Lady."

Tiglao said that in her speeches before the business groups in London, like in the International Services Ltd. and Asia House, as well as in her lecture at the prestigious International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the President was able to convince the British community that the Philippines "is back in the radar screen."

In a press briefing in London earlier, Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Cesar Bautista predicted that after the President’s 29-hour visit, British investments to the Philippines are expected to increase by $2 billion to $3 billion.

LONDON (Via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday hailed the Filipino workers in the United Kingdom for bringing pride and honor to the country through their ability to do a good job in their workplace.

Speaking before the ecumenical service at the Westminster Cathedral in Central London, the President told the large segment of the Filipino community here that their countrymen back in the Philippines are very proud for what they are doing for their country.

"You are not only ambassadors of the Philippines in different countries like here in England. Your exemplary skills convey the picture of the Philippines," the President told the Filipino expatriates here.

The Chief Executive stressed that wherever the Filipino workers go they always show extraordinary skills in the workplace and a resilience that allows them to adopt easily to the culture of other countries.

Aside from providing a good image for the Philippines, the President cited the huge remittance of the overseas Filipino workers back to their country.

"We have seven million Filipinos all over the world, and you send our country US$7 billion every year. That’s why the Philippines is thankful to all of you," she said.

The President said the contribution of the OFWs to their country is far bigger than the US$5 billion Shell investment at the Malampaya offshore gas project, the biggest single foreign investment in the Philippines.

"In your case, you are sending US$7 billion every year that’s why you must be making a Malampaya project for your country every year," the President said, to the cheer of the huge Filipino audience.

She pointed out that it is for this reason that the Filipino workers abroad should not only be called OFWs but also overseas Filipino investors because of the US$7 billion that they are infusing to the country’s economy.

According to the President, the money that the Filipino workers send to their country provides capitalization and investment to their respective communities.

"Being your President and to all the communities that you are helping back home, thank you for all your investment to your country, the great Filipino worker, the great Filipino investor," the President said in paying tribute to the Filipino community here.

During the ecumenical service, representatives of various religious groups here in the United Kingdom offered separate prayers for peace and unity in the world amid the conflict resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

After the service, the President was mobbed by her "Kababayans," some of them even inviting her to visit their homes here in London.

Majority of the Filipino workers here are nurses working in various hospitals in the UK and in Northern Ireland.

LONDON (via PLDT) – Twenty-nine hours was all the time President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had to spare for an official visit to the United Kingdom.

And that was all the time she needed to seal the UK’s commitment to pursue avenues for greater trade with the Philippines and to give the Britons a lasting impression of her country.

Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines Allan Collins had described the visit as "extremely useful to both sides," noting how this further strengthened the diplomatic and economic ties between London and Manila.

"The President’s visit has been extremely useful to both sides, and has taken yet further forward, the close ties between two English speaking democracies," Collins said in a press briefing at the end of President Macapagal-Arroyo’s one-day visit to London.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao, in assessing the whirlwind London visit, described it as "very hectic but highly successful."

"It is clear (from the President’s visit) that the flourishing political and economic partnerships between Manila and London is set to continue and grow yet stronger in the future," Collins said.

Both Collins and his counterpart, Philippine Ambassador to the UK Cesar Bautista cited the importance of the meeting of the minds between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Macapagal-Arroyo on the need to internationalize the efforts to combat terrorism.

Realizing that they share a common stance, the two leaders agreed, in principle, to extend assistance to each other, in building their capability to combat transnational crimes.

The first among these efforts is the agreement that has been worked out for Scotland Yard to train the Philippine National Police (PNP) in fighting transnational crimes, including kidnapping.

It will be recalled that the kidnapping activities of the Abu Sayyaf has crossed national boundaries, particularly when it brought to the Philippines the kidnap victims it abducted from the Sipadan Resort in Malaysia.

Collins said both the UK and the Philippines "achieved the political and economic objectives of the visit," noting that President Macapagal-Arroyo’s trip was on the invitation of the British government.

He described the meeting between President Macapagal-Arroyo and Prime Minister Blair as "friendly and productive," which he said, centered on three major concerns, poverty alleviation, terrorism, and the closer economic relationships.

Bautista said even the head of the Asia-Pacific Adviser to British International Trade Sir Anthony Cleaver predicted a significant increase in investments and trade between the Philippines and the United Kingdom.

He said that the increase in investments from the UK to the Philippines could reach all the way up to $3 billion this year and next year.

"The UK will remain to be a biggest investor of the Philippines for this year and for the coming year," Bautista said, citing the forecast of experts who have been involved in negotiations between the two countries’ private sectors.

While he admitted that the agreements between these private parties have yet to be formally signed, Bautista explained that the formal documents would come later, stressing that "many of them (British investors) were very keen on investing in the Philippines."

He said apart from the $800 million increase in investments from UK last year, he expects another $2 billion or $3 billion.

"That is the kind of interest we have seen so far between British and Philippine business," he said.

After hearing President Macapagal-Arroyo discussed the state of the Philippine economy and the programs undertaken by the administration to help boost growth, Cleaver said his fellow businessmen were impressed with the presentation and were confident that the business climate in the Philippines has become conducive to trade and investments.

The UK is the Philippines’ biggest trading partner in Europe and the 11^th in the entire world, according to 2000 statistics.