President Benigno Aquino with US Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye, (third from left), Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. (leftmost), and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario (rightmost). (Photo courtesy of the Office of Senator Daniel K. Inouye)
MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino called on United States Senator Daniel Inouye during his official visit to the United States.
“The purpose of the whole trip is to personally thank you for so many things. Thanks to you, we’ve had a very productive trip,” Aquino told Inouye, who is also Senate President Pro-Tempore and Chair of the Committee on Appropriations.
In response, Inouye vowed to continue supporting the Aquino administration and the Filipino people, the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. reported.
Inouye has sponsored and supported numerous bills championing the interest of the Philippines and the Filipinos in the US. He had a vital role in the historic enactment into law of the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation provision of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
On June 23, he re-introduced the Save Our Industries Act, a bill that will allow the export to the United States of Philippine apparel made of US. fabrics. This legislation aims to increase jobs and exports income for both countries.
During Inouye’s most recent visit to the Philippines in April, President Aquino conferred on him the highest Philippine Presidential honor, the Order of Sikatuna, for fostering, developing and strengthening relations between the Philippines and the United States.