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Palace: PNoy leaving Nov 11 for Honolulu APEC summit
President Benigno Aquino III may catch only the "second half" of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week in Hawaii as he is to depart Manila for Honolulu only on Friday, Malacañang said Sunday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino is scheduled to leave on Nov. 11 – the middle of the APEC meet. "The president and his delegation will be leaving November 11," she said on government-run dzRB radio, adding she is still determining the date of his return to the country. Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the APEC Leaders' Week will be from November 8 to 13. It said Aquino will lead a Philippine delegation that includes at least three Cabinet members. Joining Aquino are Secretaries Albert del Rosario (foreign affairs), Gregory Domingo (trade), and Cesar Purisima (finance). On Saturday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda already hinted Aquino will miss the opening of the APEC meet when he said Aquino has scheduled engagements on November 8. The DFA said the Philippine delegation will push for the Philippine positions in line with the three priorities of APEC 2011 at the Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting and the Ministerial Meetings leading up to the Leaders' Meeting. These include:
- strengthening regional economic integration and expanding trade by advancing "next-generation" trade and investment issues;
- promoting green growth and fostering job creation in green industries; and
- expanding regulatory cooperation and advancing regulatory convergence.
