US looking forward to fruitful Bush state visit this weekend

The United States Embassy said yesterday it is looking forward to a successful and fruitful state visit to Manila for US President George W. Bush.

The US Embassy reiterated Bush’s earlier commitment to support programs to improve the lives and security of Filipinos and Americans alike.

US Navy Capt. Dennis Williams, a public affairs official of the embassy, said the visit would emphasize the two countries’ "stronger and reinvigorated alliance" that was underscored during President Arroyo’s state visit to Washington in May.

"What we are looking for is a very successful visit and exchange of information," he said.

Williams and other embassy and White House officials were at the Batasan Pambansa complex to finalize preparations for Bush’s address to a joint session of Congress on Saturday.

House deputy secretary general Artemio Adaza said Bush "will make a most significant major policy statement in no other place in Asia but here, so we’re sure the international community will be closely watching this event."

US officials handling the state visit are very satisfied with the security preparations as he shrugged off reported threats by left-leaning congressmen to stage protest actions during Bush’s address. "This is a democracy... we all want this to be a successful visit for all parties and our security elements go to great lengths to plan for any eventuality."

Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza of the House foreign affairs committee said Bush must "prove America’s love for the Philippines."

A barrio fiesta-style reception — with native dishes like adobo in olive oil, bangus (milkfish) belly with mango sauce dip, Filipino-style beef steak (bistek), fried rice, lechon (roast suckling pig), various rice cakes and pork and chicken barbecue — will greet Bush and his party at the Batasan Pambansa complex on Saturday, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos said.

Bush is arriving in Manila on Oct. 18 for an eight-hour state visit before proceeding to Bangkok, Thailand for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Palace said the RP-US bilateral relationship is no longer "characterized by patronage nor (is it) transaction-driven (or) based purely on consideration of compensation."

Rather, the relationship between the Philippines and the US "has developed into a vigorous and quality partnership based on shared values and mutual benefits," the Palace said.

US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said that during Bush’s state visit, "the emphasis will be based on partnership and maturity of the relationship between equals," even as he acknowledged the United States’ willingness to provide the Philippines with development assistance.

The Philippines is now a "major non-NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) ally" of the US, putting it in an exclusive club of countries that includes Australia, Japan, Israel and Egypt.

The Philippines, as a major non-NATO ally of the US, will also be allowed to work with the US on military research and development. This arrangement will give the Philippines greater access to American defense equipment and supplies.

In Baguio City, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Crispin Beltran said Malacañag is spending P50 million to beautify the Palace for the Bush visit.

According to Beltran, the allocation for 2004 for health care services in the national budget totals only P12.9 billion (P1.075 billion monthly, nationwide) and the education budget this year will only be P133.9 billion (P1.16 billion monthly, nationwide).