Treñas joins President's foreign trip
City Mayor Jerry Treñas joined the 13-man official delegation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in New Zealand and Australia. The group left Sunday afternoon in the country. The President will have a four-day visit to New Zealand and Australia.
Other officials, aside from Treñas, joining the president are Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña, Gov. Loreto S. Campos of Misamis Occidental and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chairperson, sub-committee on Energy.
The President is set to discuss with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark different issues including Interfaith Dialogue, a vital component of the peace process in Mindanao. The delegation will be in New Zealand from May 28 to 30. Mrs. Arroyo will also meet with the Filipino community there.
In Australia, the President will meet with Prime Minister John Howard. They will discuss issues that affects defense cooperation between Australia and the Philippines. From Auckland, the President will proceed to Canberra for a state visit to Australia until May 31.
The other members of the Philippine delegation are Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo, Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Bienvinido Tejano, Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ernesto De Leon, Secretary of Agriculture Arthur Yap, Secretary of National Defense Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and PNP Director-General Oscar Calderon.
Tejano and Calderon will only join the President in her trip to New Zealand. While, De Leon and Ebdane will join in the Australia trip. The rest of the group will join the President's trip to New Zealand and Australia.