PNoy to keep close eye on PHL while on US visit

Even while he is away on a visit to the United States, President Benigno Aquino III will keep a close eye on events in the Philippines, Malacañang said Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino will keep himself updated on what is going on in the country during his absence. “Rest assured the president, even if he is away, will keep a very close eye on what is happening in the country," she said on government-run dzRB radio. Aquino’s second visit to the US is from September 18 to 23. Valte said the visit will be “an opportunity for the president to carry with him what the Philippines has to offer." Governance agenda Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Aquino will deliver a public lecture on anti-corruption and people empowerment in Washington D.C. US President Barack Obama and Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff also invited Aquino to the official launch of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in New York on September 20. The OGP is a new multilateral initiative to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. Obama and Rousseff are the co-chairs of the initiative. Aquino will also deliver the keynote remarks at an OGP-related forum entitled "The Power of Open: A Global Discussion." The Asia Society also extended an invitation for Aquino to deliver a speech on his domestic and foreign policy thrusts. Business track He is also scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the IBM Centennial Forum called "THINK: A Forum on the Future of Leadership" marking IBM's 100th anniversary. Expected to attend the forum are more than 700 leaders from government, business, the academe and science, as well as up-and-coming leaders from across the globe. Fordham University in New York will confer a Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa on Aquino. The university had also conferred an honorary degree on his late mother Corazon in September 1986. While in New York, Aquino will have a roundtable meeting with top business executives belonging to the US-ASEAN Business Council, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce. At the US capital Aquino will also meet US Senate President Pro Tempore and Appropriations Committee chairman Daniel Inouye to thank him for his steadfast support of Philippine causes in the US Congress. He will also attend a gathering of the Filipino community in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia. That would be the first meeting between President Aquino and the Filipino community in this tri-State area region of the US capital, the DFA said. — ELR/LBG, GMA News