NAIA Terminal II, Pasay City
13 September 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III addressed his ‘bosses’ at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) before departing for Europe and the United States which he hopes will raise the international community’s confidence on the Philippines’ growing economy.

In his message, President Aquino shared his optimism that his working visit to Europe and U.S.A. will bring good news and more opportunities for the Filipinos, especially in attracting new investors in manufacturing industries, IT-BPO, energy and projects under the Public-Private Partnerships, upon his return home on 25 September.

Agenda for his official working visit includes meeting the leaders of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), following their evaluation on the Filipino seafarers, to update them on the measures the government has been keen on to ensure that the 1978 Convetion on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping is being observed. He also intends to ease the worries of the European Union regarding issues on illegal fishing happening in Philippine seas.

Travelling to the U.S.A, the President will join the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Summit 2014 in New York to call for worldwide action to strengthen partnerships among nations and to address climate change. He will also take this as opportunity to personally thank the international community for their support at the wake of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

In his 12-day journey, the President will first visit Spain to be followed by Belgium, France and Germany. He will then cross the Atlantic Ocean to visit the U.S.A particularly Boston, New York and San Francisco. Despite the tight schedule, President Aquino will make time to check on the Filipino communities in all areas and report the status of their homeland.

“Hangad nating sa kanilang pag-uwi sa bansa, ay sila na mismo ang magsabing: “Ibang-iba na talaga ang Pilipinas; kaya ko nang itaguyod ang pangarap at kinabukasan ng aking pamilya sa sariling bayan,” the President said in his speech. “Sa dami ng ating dadaluhang pagpupulong, sa haba man ng ating magiging biyahe, iisa ang bitbit nating agenda: ang humanap ng paraan upang mapalawak pa and saklaw ng benepisyong naihahatid natin sa ating mga kababayan, at mas maging abot-kamay ang ating pag-asenso,” he said.

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