P-Noy to have 1-on-1 with Obama

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will have a one-on-one meeting with US President Barack Obama when he visits the United States next week, Malacañang said yesterday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB the meeting between the two leaders had been set but it would be up to the Department of Foreign Affairs to release the full details of Aquino’s trip to the US on Sept. 19 to 22.

Washington think tank Heritage Foundation earlier said Obama should have a one-on-one meeting with Aquino, saying America’s aid to its ally had long been predicated upon the Philippines also contributing its fair share.

“Now that President Aquino’s commitment can no longer be in doubt, the US should step up to the plate and uphold its end of the bargain,” Robert Warshaw, research assistant in the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation, said.

He said by increasing funding for its arms acquisitions and military modernization plan, the Philippine leadership under Aquino was once again demonstrating its seriousness in protecting its territorial sovereignty.

Aquino’s US visit was upon the request of Obama for him to attend the launch of the Open Government Partnership at the United Nations Assembly in New York.

The conference, which takes place on Sept. 19, will include the participation of several countries, two of them from Asia – the Philippines and Indonesia – and will set the stage for the formal launch of the US Initiative Open Government Partnership.

During the conference, eight steering committee countries – the Philippines included – will announce plans to secure commitments from other governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, and fight corruption.

Aquino will also speak at the World Bank’s annual conference in Washington on Sept. 21.

He is scheduled to return to the Philippines on Sept. 22, before embarking on another official visit to Tokyo, Japan from Sept. 26 to 28.