US congressional delegation visits PH

INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines—Two United States senators and four members of the House Representatives were in the Philippines for three days to reinforce bilateral ties between the two countries.

Republican Sen. Robert Corker of Tennesse and Democrat Sen. Ronald Wyden of Oregon, and a House delegation led by Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen visited the Philippines from August 6 to 8.

Other members of the House were Republican Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, Republican Rep. Ken Calvert of South California, and Democrat Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia.

The six legislators met with President Benigno Aquino III on Friday at Malacañang, in the presence of Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Laura Del Rosario and other Cabinet officials.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario is currently in Myanmar for the the 47th ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting.

“This visit serves to reinforce the bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United States,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to the DFA, major aspects of PH-US ties were discussed, including the recently signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, and areas of strategic security collaboration and economic partnership.

“Their visit was an opportunity to share information on developments in the Philippines, discuss matters beneficial to the Philippines now pending with the US Congress such as the benefits for veterans and encourage the visiting members of the House of Representatives to join the Philippine-US Friendship Caucus,” the DFA said.

Senator Corker is a ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee and an active member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. His Asian trip also includes stops in Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.

Senator Wyden is a member of the Committee on Intelligence, and chair of the sub-committee on international trade, customs and global competitiveness of the finance committee. His visit to the Philippines is part of a regional tour that will include South Korea, Taiwan and China.

Representative Frelinghuysen, on the other hand, serves as chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee.

Aside from being the majority deputy whip, Representative Granger serves as the vice chairman of the powerful defense appropriations subcommittee and is the top Republican on the state and foreign operations appropriations subcommittee.

Representative Calvert continues to serve on the House appropriations committee where he is the chairman of the interior and the environment subcommittee.  A senior member of the appropriations committee, Representative Moran serves as the ranking member on the subcommittee on the interior and environment on the defense and legislative branch subcommittees.

The delegation from the US House of Representatives will be visiting neighboring countries afterward.

“The Philippine leg is intended to give members of the sub-committee a better appreciation and understanding of the Philippine-US relations amidst continuing and changing realities in the region,” the DFA said.