Once again, travel bug bites GMA

The travel bug’s bitten her again.

President Arroyo will mark her first year in office with another official trip across the globe, this time to the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.

Official documents from the Palace show that Mrs. Arroyo has approved the first set of foreign travels for the year 2002, beginning with London on Jan. 28. She marks her first year as President on Jan. 20.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has received instructions to alert the Philippine embassies in the three countries and make necessary preparations to ensure the success of President Arroyo’s trip.

"The President is inclined to undertake a one-day visit to London on Jan. 28 to meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and discuss common strategies in combating terrorism and poverty," Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo stated in one of the documents.

Last month, Mrs. Arroyo accepted Blair’s invitation, which was formally conveyed to Malacañang by British Ambassador to Manila Allan Collins.

From London, the President will fly to Canada for a two-day visit to Ottawa and Toronto upon the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

She will then proceed to New York on Jan. 31 to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF).

She is expected to return to Manila on Feb. 4.

Since the President will already be meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at the WEF, she decided to defer a planned visit to Germany.

Had the visit to London followed the original scheduled of Feb. 14, Mrs. Arroyo would have been invited to a morning ceremony at Buckingham Palace, where she would have been conferred with the Cross of St. Michael and St. George – the highest honor given by the Royal Family to visiting heads of state.

Instead, she will merely stay overnight in London after the meeting with Blair and leaders of British industries. The Royal Family will still be vacationing at that time.