GMA in Japan, names Mike Arroyo special envoy

Tokyo — President Arroyo has named her husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, as her special envoy for overseas Filipino workers shortly after she arrived here yesterday for a three-day official visit upon the invitation of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to strengthen bilateral ties between the Philippines and Japan.

She made the announcement in a meeting with the Filipino community at Hotel Mariners Court in Tokyo. She made it clear that her husband will receive no salary.

Mrs. Arroyo said she wants her husband to serve as her representative and attend to the needs of expatriate Filipinos. Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Arroyo said he does not expect anyone to criticize him for taking the job because it’s for the benefit of Filipinos working overseas.

The President is expected to seek increased aid from Tokyo, the country’s top source of official development assistance (ODA).

Japan is also the Philippines’ second-largest trading partner, second largest source of investment and second largest source of tourists, Mrs. Arroyo said.

The President, accompanied by her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo, daughter Luli and a small group of Cabinet members, left on board a chartered Philippine Airlines (PAL) jet after brief send-off ceremonies at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

A high-level source said Mrs. Arroyo would ask Tokyo to raise its annual loan package to Manila on Thursday for the coming Japanese fiscal year by 8.8 percent to $617 million.

Japan’s latest loan package to Manila, its 25th, is worth some P567 million. This is the President’s third trip to Japan since coming to power in 2001.

Mrs. Arroyo is scheduled to deliver an address before the Diet, the Japanese parliament, on Tuesday before calling on Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Emperor Akihito, the Palace said.