President Benigno Aquino III is kicking off his foreign trips this year with a journey to Switzerland, where he is seen to cite Philippine reforms in a global forum.
Aquino is expected to "highlight the administration's anti-corruption campaign and make a pitch on the Philippines' readiness to receive more investments," Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said in a statement Wednesday.
The government has earmarked P49 million for the trip, the statement added.
The amount includes the delegation's chartered flight to Switzerland, accommodation, transportation, food and equipment and telecommunications requirements, among others.
The President will fly to Davos late Wednesday to attend the World
Economic Forum, which is flocked by global business and political
leaders.
He is set to deliver a keynote address on the fight
against corruption at the WEF "Partnering Against Corruption Initiative"
which will be held on January 24, the Palace said.
Related story: Aquino to showcase Philippines' performance in Davos
Aquino's trip
will last until Jan. 27. Aquino is also expected to meet the Filipino
community in Zurich Jan. 26 before flying back to Manila.
"President
Aquino's participation in the WEF is an important opportunity for us to
let the world know of our determination to institutionalize good
governance in our country as one of the principal pillars of fiscal
reform," Ochoa said.
Last year, Aquino had nine trips abroad, including state visits to the United States and the United Kingdom.
Also
among his notable 2012 trips abroad are to Vladivostok, Russia for the
24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in September and to Phnom
Phen, Cambodia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in
November.
Related story: Aquino won't be absentee president in 2013 polls
For his first 2012 trip abroad, the President will be accompanied a 63-member delegation composed mostly of public officials.
This
includes Foreign Affairs chief Albert Del Rosario, Finance chief Cesar
Purisima, Trade chief Gregory Domingo, Budget chief Florencio Abad,
Socio-Economic Planning chief Arsenio Balisacan, Cabinet Secretary to
the President Jose Rene Almendras and Presidential Communications
Secretary Ricky Carandang.
Related slideshow: Presidential activities
