Arroyo leaving for Japan today

President Arroyo will ask Japan to maintain its level of official development assistance (ODA) during her five-day working trip to Tokyo meant to further reinforce bilateral economic ties.

Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable said Mrs. Arroyo would use her trip as an opportunity to stress the Philippines’ commitment to global trade and to push for the creation of an East Asian trade zone.

The President leaves at 9:30 a.m. today aboard Japan Airlines Flight 746.

The trip was primarily in response to an invitation by Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japan’s leading financial newspaper.

"This has a relation to the official development assistance," Afable said, adding that Mrs. Arroyo would show that the country has improved its use of foreign assistance.

Japan is traditionally the biggest source of bilateral assistance to the Philippines, but there has been concern that this level of aid will drop because of the economic slowdown in Japan and allegations that the Philippines has failed to use foreign aid properly.

"There are positive things in the utilization of this (aid) and the President, months ago, ordered the Cabinet to clear all the bottlenecks to the utilization of ODA," Afable said.

Mrs. Arroyo will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the paper’s Eight Nikkei International Conference on the "Future of Asia" set to open today in Tokyo.

She is also expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, although nothing yet has been finalized.

Earlier this year, Koizumi toured Southeast Asian countries to drum up support for the formation of a comprehensive economic partnership centered on Japan and the ASEAN.

"Also, we have to inform the Japanese people and the Japanese government as well as those who will be attending the symposium that the Philippines is committed to a deep and continuing involvement in the global regime," Afable said.

"Another objective is a prospective relationship of ASEAN and Japan in the formation of an East Asian pact," Afable added.

Japan is the number one source of ODA for the Philippines. It is also the country’s second largest trading partner, the biggest source of tourism revenues and a major source of direct foreign investments.

In 1999, a total of $412.98 in ODA was delivered to the Philippines.

Tokyo has committed $8.83 billion in ODA for the Philippines.

Mrs. Arroyo has said under her leadership, the country has utilized about 90 percent of ODA funds.

The President will also be conferred an honorary degree in doctor of laws by the Waseda University.

She is also expected to meet with officials of the Keidanren (Federation of Economic Organizations of Japan), the Japan External Trade Organization, Toyota Motors Corp., Honda Motors Corp. the Japanese Auto Parts Association, the Japanese Shipowners Association and the Philippine Society of Japan.

In Osaka, the President will attend a symposium on "Asia and Japan in the 21st Century–Proposals by Female Leaders."

She will also meet with Satoshi Iue, chairman and chief executive officer of Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. — Paolo Romero, AFP