P-Noy off to US, Europe next month

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is going on a trip to Europe and the United States next month.

In an interview aired yesterday over Bombo Radyo, the President said he would go to Belgium, France, Germany and Spain before flying to the US for the Climate Summit.

Aquino said he would meet with leaders of the four European countries to seek more investments and protection for Filipino seafarers, among other concerns, and then visit the seat of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium.

“We will thank them for lifting the restrictions on our aircraft. Maybe there will also be discussions on our seamen and the so-called EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency) for deeper coordination. The European Union has been helping a lot, including in (rehabilitation of areas hit by Super Typhoon) Yolanda… and peace efforts (in Mindanao),” he said.

The EU announced the lifting of the ban on Cebu Pacific in April, nine months after it allowed Philippine Airlines (PAL) to fly to Europe again.

It blacklisted Philippine carriers in 2010 after the International Civil Aviation Organization classified the Philippine aviation industry as “a significant safety concern.” The Philippines was removed from the aviation blacklist in March last year, prompting the EU to lift the ban on PAL, which started direct flights to London in November.

Aquino said he would also push for increased trade and commerce with European countries, many of which had expressed interest to invest in the Philippines, including in manufacturing.

The President said he would stay in each of the four European countries for two days only.

Aquino said his visit to the US for the Climate Summit is upon the invitation of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US President Barack Obama.

The UN chief invited world leaders from government, finance, business and civil society to “galvanize and catalyze climate action” and asked them to bring bold announcements and actions to the summit that would reduce emissions, strengthen climate resilience and mobilize political will for a meaningful legal agreement in 2015.

Aquino also cited World Bank president Jim Yong Kim’s statement that the Philippines could share a lot of experiences on climate change and how to deal with it.

He said countries with more carbon emission must pay more damages than developing nations that are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

“They should exert more effort to reverse what’s happening in this situation,” Aquino said.