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PRESIDENT BUSH DISPATCHES USS RONALD REAGAN CARRIER GROUP TO PHILIPPINES


6/24/2008 The White House: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met President George W. Bush at the Oval Office. Photo by Jerry Carual/PCPO	Video courtesy of Balitang America

6/24/2008 - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met President George W. Bush at the Oval Office at the White House.
Photo by Jerry Carual/PCPO

PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRESIDENT ARROYO ANNOUNCE
DEPLOYMENT OF USS RONALD REAGAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER GROUP TO ILOILO
U.S. Embassy Manila, June 25, 2008

Following their meeting in the Oval Office on June 24, United States President George W. Bush and Republic of the Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo agreed on the immediate deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier group to waters in the vicinity of Iloilo, Republic of the Philippines. The carrier group will support immediate rescue, recovery, and disaster relief efforts being carried out by Philippine authorities in the aftermath of Typhoon Frank (Fengshen).

As President Bush said, “I expressed to President Arroyo our deep condolences to those who suffered as a result of the typhoon. We, the American people, care about the human suffering that's taking place, and we want to help our friends in a time of need.”

The arrival of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier group in the Republic of the Philippines exemplifies the longstanding ties between the United States and the Philippines and the U.S. commitment to assisting the Philippines, in keeping with our mutual commitments under the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty.

USS Ronald Reagan is the largest and newest of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. Its on-board aircraft are able to assist with transportation of cargo, aerial damage assessment, and support search-and-rescue operations. Under the direction of Philippine disaster relief authorities, USS Ronald Reagan personnel may provide assistance including aircraft support, production and delivery of potable water, medical assistance activities, and machinery repair.

The USS Ronald Reagan’s carrier group includes the cruiserUSS Chancellorsville, the destroyers USS Decatur, USS Gridley, and USS Howard, the frigate USS Thach, and other supporting vessels.

The USNS Stockham and U.S. Navy P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft continue to provide support and U.S. Navy divers are assisting Philippine personnel with rescue and recovery efforts on the capsized ferry, MV Princess of the Stars.

PRESIDENT BUSH MEETS WITH PRESIDENT ARROYO OF THE PHILIPPINES
White House Oval Office, June 24, 2008

10:25 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, it is a pleasure to welcome you back to the Oval Office. We have just had a very constructive dialogue. First, I want to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a nation that -- in which there's a lot of Philippine-Americans. They love America and they love their heritage. And I reminded the President that I am reminded of the great talent of the -- of our Philippine-Americans when I eat dinner at the White House. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes.

PRESIDENT BUSH: And the chef is a great person and a really good cook, by the way, Madam President.

We talked about our friendship, our bilateral relations, and we spent some time on foreign policy.

First, I expressed our deep condolences to those who suffered as a result of the typhoon. And I know there's some families that are hurting. Some are wondering whether or not their loved ones will, you know, reappear. We, the American people care about the human suffering that's taking place, and we send our prayers.

Secondly, I informed the President -- Secretary Gates informed the President, through me, that the United States will move the USS Ronald Reagan, a large aircraft carrier, to help with the assistance, along with other U.S. Navy assets. We're happy to do it. We want to help our friends in a time of need.

We talked about, you know, food, and I assured the President we'll continue to help. We helped with rice in the past. And, you know, I'm proud of my country. We give a lot of food aid, and this is a time where America needs to step up, and we will, Madam President.

We talked about our mutual desire to advance how important it is to move forward the bilateral and multilateral trade agendas. I'm a -- I believe trade is beneficial to both our countries. I'm hopeful we can get a Doha Round done, and we strategized together about how we can move the process.

I congratulated the President on her strong stand on counterterrorism -- more than strong stand -- effective stand on counterterrorism, as well as laying out a vision for peace. The President has been very strong in having a carrots-and-sticks approach -- "sticks," of course, say we're not going to allow for people to terrorize our citizens; the "carrot" approach is that there's peace available.

We talked about Burma, the area, the region. The President has been a very strong leader when it comes to the freedom agenda and human dignity.

And so, all in all, we had a very constructive talk. I'm proud you're here.

PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thanks for coming.

PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you, thank you. Mr. President, with your permission, I'd like to address our countrymen in my own native language.

(Speaks in Tagalog. Translation provided by the State Department.) Fellow countrymen, America is a strong ally in supporting our efforts to strengthen our economy and reinforce our democracy. The Philippines and the United States have a strong relationship, and we are here today to discuss important bilateral issues with President Bush, members of his administration, and congressional leaders. As President Bush mentioned, we will focus our discussions, now more than ever, on food shortages, defense cooperation, and economic aid. Together with our friends, such as America, let us join forces and move our country forward towards the company of first world developed nations over the next 20 years.

Long live the Philippines, and long live the friendship between the Philippines and the United States.

PRESIDENT BUSH: I couldn't have said it better myself. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, all.

END 10:30 A.M. EDT

PANAY ISLAND ELICITS QUICK EMERGENCY REPONSE
PIA Press Release 2008/06/27

Roxas City (27 June) -- President George Bush has quickly responded to the request of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for assistance in the aftermath of the typhoon, particularly in the Island of Panay by dispatching the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to the Philippines, along with one cruiser, three destroyers and one frigate and other supporting vessels.

The vessels will assist in transporting cargo, aerial damage assessment, search and rescue, production and delivery of potable water, medical assistance and machinery repair.

The USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy, is the ninth ship in her class and is the Navy's newest aircraft carrier and has a displacement of about 97,000 metric tons. She is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan.

President Arroyo proceeded to Washington, June 25 to meet with US President Bush as the major leg of her US state visit.

When she arrived in Washington, the President said President Bush also sent the USNS Stockholm, two helicopters, a P-3 marine surveillance aircraft and US Navy divers to help in the rescue and recovery effort, including victims of the sunken MV "Princess of the Stars" of Sulpicio Lines.

President Arroyo assured the Filipino community in Washington that she is completely engaged "on a minute to minute basis" in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in the Philippines in the wake of "Typhoon" Frank widespread damage in the Philippines.

She pointed out that she had been calling disaster coordinating council meetings almost daily, as she shrugged off calls for her to cut short her working visit to the United States and return home to oversee the rescue and relief efforts.

We have been coordinating disaster relief and aid from allies here in Washington and everywhere else," the President told the Filipino community.

She has mobilized the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) since then to visit and provide relief assistance to typhoon-stricken areas including Panay Island.

On June 26, Vice President Noli De Castro led the core team composed of Social Secretary Esperanza Cabral and Health Secretary Franciscon Duque III to deliver emergency cash assistance, family food and clothing packs, water, drugs and medicines and purifying solutions for typhoon victims in the provinces of Aklan, Antique and Capiz through their respective provincial governments. With them also was Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Raul N. Banias.

Capiz Senator Manuel A. Roxas was also able to convince the national government to prioritize his home-province and other Panay Island provinces in the delivery of relief assistance. Roxas accompanied the team in their province-hopping sorties.

Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes was also here a day earlier to assess the power situation in the island and to hand out a P5-million financial assistance to the Capiz Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CAPELCO) to ensure the immediate restoration of power here.

The province was without power at the height of the typhoon until it was partially restored by CAPELCO late afternoon of June 22 courtesy of the 15-megawatt modular power plant that was established by the National Power Corporation (NPC) at the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) Sub-Station in Barangay Timpas in Panitan town, situated about 18 kilometers from this city.

CAPELCO General Manager Engr. Edgar Diaz told Vice President De Castro during a briefing at the Provincial Capitol, June 26 that power would be restored in the province over the weekend.

During the reception, Filipinos based in Washington chipped in more than P100, 000 as their "initial" contribution to the typhoon relief operations back home.

"We are doing everything possible to aid in the cleanup, provide disaster relief, and bring comfort to the families of the victims. We are holding the ferry company accountable, to ensure that we find out how this ferry tragedy could have occurred, so that we can take steps to make sure it never happens again," President Arroyo said.

She expressed her gratitude to President Bush for the US government's quick response to President Arroyo's request for help.

She thanked the Filipino kababayans for their remittances which have "immensely contributed to the growing Philippine economy."

The USS Ronald Reagan is moving into Panay Island through Aklan and Antique waters in order to deliver what President Bush has committed as the US government's immediate response to President Arroyo's request for help in the aftermath of Typhoon "Frank." (PIA-JSC)