GMA to push for early resumption of Doha free trade talks in APEC summit

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo will push for the resumption of the problematic Doha round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks and the immediate implementation of a multi-billion dollar standby facility to assist economies in Southeast Asia when she attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru this week, officials said yesterday.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Trade Secretary Peter Favila told a news briefing that Mrs. Arroyo will also make a side trip to Colombia for an official visit.

Ermita said the number of congressmen traveling with Mrs. Arroyo went down to just eight from the reported 40 that drew flak from the public.

She is scheduled to leave early Friday with an official delegation of five from the executive branch, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza and Favila.

Accompanying the party are three individuals from the Office of the President, escorts from the Presidential Security Group, and staff from the Office of the Press Secretary.

Smarting from criticisms of the huge delegation from the House of Representatives, Speaker Prospero Nograles asked some of the lawmakers to junk their plans to join Mrs. Arroyo’s trip to Peru.

“I gathered from (Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs) Secretary (Gabriel) Claudio that from the initial report of about 40 congressmen it appears that only eight would join the trip. The number could reach 10 but not 40,” he said.