MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is optimistic his visit to the US will bring more investments to pump prime the economy and provide more social services to the people, including the upgrading of education.
Mr. Aquino will visit Vietnam on Sept. 13 to 14, and then proceed to Indonesia on Sept. 14 to 15 for a state visit before his trip to the United States later next month, Malacañang said yesterday.
The Palace said as part of tradition, Mr. Aquino must first visit members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Details of Mr. Aquino’s first travel abroad were not yet available.
Mr. Aquino spoke with optimism after receiving a warm reception from students of the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong yesterday as guest of honor in the launching of the Educational and Law Center.
Mr. Aquino was also ecstatic at the prospects of a German group investing in the country after the foreign investor made a courtesy call to him in Malacañang.
He said that in September he hoped to bring home some good news from the US, adding that there were investors who were very interested in putting their money in the country.
Accompanying Mr. Aquino were Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzalez II and Mayor Benhur Abalos, among others.
Mr. Aquino said it had been a discouraging week for him starting Monday, when eight Hong Kong nationals, five of whom were also Canadian passport holders, were killed in the 10-hour hostage crisis at Rizal Park in Manila.
Grateful that he visited the Mandaluyong campus, Mr. Aquino decided not to read his prepared speech and instead gave impromptu remarks.
He begged off from making empty promises on increasing the budget for education. – With Aurea Calica