PGMA statement during a call by Deputy State Department Secretary John Negroponte, fronting Willard Intercontinental Hotel, Washington, D.C., USA, June 23, 2008. [Video by RTV-Malacañang]

(RTV Malacañang)

PGMA statement during a call by Deputy State Department Secretary John Negroponte, fronting Willard Intercontinental Hotel, Washington, D.C., USA, June 23, 2008

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"Since arriving in Washington, we have been in constant contact with Manila as we track and direct rescue and recovery operations in the wake of the devastation left by typhoon Frank. We are deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life, particularly the tragedy of the capsizing of the passenger ferry Princess of Stars.

We have just come from a call by Deputy State Secretary John Negroponte and the U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney. Our American friends are here to announce emergency aid and assistance to help the Philippines in this hour of need. In the wake of this natural disaster and recovery of the Princess of Stars more assistance is forthcoming as well.

We are deeply grateful for the response by the U.S. government including the U.S. Navy. So, we would like to introduce Secretary Negroponte and Ambassador Kenney to comment on the situation and the overall strength of U.S.-Philippine relations.

Thank you."

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Remarks by Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte at Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, DC on June 23, 2008. [Video by the U.S. State Department]

(U.S. State Department)

U.S. Assistance to the Philippines

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte
Washington, D.C., June 23, 2008

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte welcomed Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C. On behalf of the United States, Deputy Secretary Negroponte offered his condolences to the government and the people of the Philippines affected by the typhoon, and announced the giving of emergency aid and assistance to help in this hour of need.

The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an initial $100,000 for the purchase of emergency relief supplies to families affected. USAID is continuing to monitor the situation and stands prepared to provide additional assistance if needed. Remarks by Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte and Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, DC on June 23, 2008.

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“We want to express our condolences to the government and the people of the Philippines, particularly the family members of those who have been affected by this tragedy. And I want to also confirm what the President said, which is that we have made a donation for the victims to the Philippine Red Cross and equally, or perhaps more important, the United States Navy is also sending a vessel to the scene of the accident, and we hope it should be there in a matter of hours."

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WASHINGTON DC (June 23, 2008) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shakes hands with US Deputy State Secretary John Negroponte who called on her at the Willard Hotel along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC this morning (Tuesday, June 23, Washington time). (Rodolfo Manabat/OPS-NIB Photo)

OPS June 24 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally thanked today the United States government for the support it is extending to the victims of typhoon Frank.

The President expressed the Philippines’ gratitude during her meeting with US State Department Deputy Secretary John Negroponte at the Willard Hotel here.

''We are deeply grateful for the help by the US government...'' the President said.

The US pledged to send P4 million (or roughly $100,000) worth of emergency relief goods through the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

The US Navy Ship Stockton, with rescue helicopters on board, is now on its way to Sibuyan Island off Romblon to help in the rescue and recovery of the passengers of sunken MV Princess of the Stars.

The US Navy P-3 maritime aircraft was also ordered to help in the search for survivors.

Negroponte said President George W. Bush would personally convey tomorrow to the President the US government’s ''condolences to the Filipino people.''

''We want to express our condolences to the government of the Philippines and the people, particularly those who have been affected by the tragedy,'' Negroponte said.

''Our hearts go out to the government and people of the Philippines, particularly the victims of this terrible tragedy which has just occurred,'' he added.

Typhoon Frank left hundreds of dead and missing with an estimated P1.45 billion in damages.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney, who is also here for the President's visit to the US capital city, echoed Negroponte's statement that President Bush would convey the US government's condolences when the two leaders meet tomorrow at the Oval Office.

WASHINGTON DC (June 23, 2008) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo briefs the Philippine media group outside the Willard Hotel on the status of the relief and rescue operations underway in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Frank which battered the country over the weekend. To her left is US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte who said that the US is sending a rescue vessel to help in the rescue operation for passengers of the ill-fated MV Princess of Stars which capsized off Sibuyan Island at the height of Typhoon Frank last Friday. Also shown at right are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Press Secretary Jesus Dureza. (Rodolfo Manabat/OPS-NIB Photo)

PIA 2008/06/24

Washington, DC (June 24, via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here shortly before midnight Sunday (Washington time) on the second leg of her ten-day working visit to the United States.

The President planed in by special flight from Fresno, California and was welcomed at the Dulles National Airport by officials and staff of the Philippine embassy in Washington led by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa.

Immediately upon arrival at the Willard Hotel, the President convened a meeting of members of the Cabinet accompanying her in her US trip to assess the progress of the relief and rescue operations in the wake of the devastation wrought by "Typhoon" Frank in several provinces in the Philippines.

Of special concern to the President, Philippine officials said, is the fate of the passengers still trapped inside the hold of the MV Princess of Stars ferry, which sank off Sibuyan Island at the height of the typhoon Saturday.

The President begins this morning (Monday, Washington time) her first round of meetings in the US capital when she confers with Deputy State Secretary John Negroponte at the Willard Hotel's presidential receiving room.

Philippine officials were mum on the agenda of the meeting between the President and the No. 2 US state department official, but the discussions were expected to cover a wide range of issues on US-Philippine bilateral relations.

Negroponte -- who served as US ambassador to the Philippines in 1983-89 -- coordinates and supervises US government activities overseas, represents the state department's position before Congress, and manages key foreign policy issues on behalf of the secretary of state.

Also today, the President will meet with officials of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to firm up the Philippines' bid for MCC Compact status which would pave the way for increased US funding assistance for the country's anti-poverty programs.

The MCC is a US government corporation created by President Bush at the turn of the millennium to "regard the countries that govern well" by way of US assistance for anti-poverty and sustainable development programs.

The Philippines has already received $9.4 million in assistance from the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program (MCATP) for its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program; $3.1 million for the Run After The Smugglers (RATS) program; and $1.4 million for the Revenue Protection Service (RIPS) program.

The MCATP also funded Philippine government programs designed to reduce corruption by strengthening the capability of the Office of the Ombudsman to prosecute corrupt officials.

MCATP funded a two-year, $6.5 million program to train Ombudsman employees, establish an information management system, and enhance the agency's investigative and surveillance capabilities. (PIA-MMIO)

WASHINGTON DC (June 23, 2008) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Deputy State Secretary John Negroponte walk toward the Philippine media group outside the Willard Hotel along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC Tuesday morning (Washington time). Negroponte, a former US ambassador to the Philippines, expressed his and the US government’s sympathies for the families and victims of Typhoon Frank which pummelled the country over the weekend. Negroponte said the United States is sending relief goods as well as rescue equipment, including a rescue ship and an aircraft to help in relief and rescue operations in the devastated areas of the country. Behind the President are US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenny, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo. (Rodolfo Manabat/OPS-NIB Photo)

PIA 2008/06/25

By Miriam P. Aquino

San Fernando City, La Union (25 June) -- President Gloria Macapagal_Arroyo, still in US is doing every way she can to keep everything under control amid the tragic experience brought about by typhoon "Frank" and at the same time personally expressed her gratitude for the US government's support to the Filipino people particularly to the victims and family of those affected by the sea mishap.

In a courtesy call with the President at the Willard Hotel in Washington, US State Department Deputy Secretary John Negroponte relayed the US government's condolences and said that they are saddened with the recent tragedy that the people of the Philippines and the government are experiencing.

As President George W. Bush expressed his condolences, the US government sent P4 million (or roughly $100,000) worth of emergency relief goods coursed through the US embassy in Manila and forwarded to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

They have also sent HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters on board a US Navy Ship Stockton to Sibuyan Island off Romblon as well as the US Navy P-3 maritime aircraft to assist in the ongoing search and rescue operations in search for more survivors from the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney for her part, After that severe destruction, typhoon Frank left hundreds of deaths and missing persons with an estimated damages of P1.45 billion. (PIA La Union)

WASHINGTON DC (June 23, 2008) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and US Deputy State Secretary John Negroponte discuss issues of common interest to the US and the Philippines Tuesday (Washington time) at the Presidential suite of the Willard Hotel along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. Negroponte, a former US ambassador to the Philippines, later told the Philippine media group covering the President's US trip that his government had dispatched both financial and relief goods to the Philippines as part of its humanitarian assistance to the victims of Typhoon Frank. The US has also sent a rescue vessel to help in efforts to save the lives of passengers trapped in the hold of a ferry which capsized at the height of Typhoon Frank last Friday.(Rodolfo Manabat/OPS-NIB Photo)

PIA 2008/06/25

Manila (25 June) -- Personal na pinasalamatan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang pamahalaan ng Estados Unidos dahil sa suportang ipinaabot nito sa mga naging biktima ng bagyong Frank na sumalanta sa Pilipinas.

Ipinaabot ng Pangulo ang kanyang pasasalamat ng makipagpulong ito kay US State Department Deputy Secretary John Negroponte kung saan nagpaabot ang US ng $100,000 o may kabuuang apat (4) na milyong piso sa Philippine National Red Cross upang magamit sa pagbibigay ng emergency relief goods.

Maliban sa cash assistance, ipinadala din ng pamahalaan ng US ang US Navy Ship Stockton at mga helicopter upang tumulong sa isinasagawang search at rescue operation sa mga di pa natatagpuang pasahero ng lumubog na Sulpicio Lines M/V Princess of the Stars sa Sibuyan Island.

Inatasan din ni US President George W. Bush ang US Navy P-3 maritime aircraft upang tumulong sa paghahanap ng mga nakaligtas na pasahero sa nabanggit na paglubog ng barko. (Lgtomas/PIA 12)

PIA 2008/06/25

Manila (25 June) -- Personal nga gipasalamatan ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang kagamhanan sa Estados Unidos sa ilang tabang sa mga biktima sa Bagyong Frank.

Ang pagpasalamat giduso sa Presidente sa iyang tigum ni US State Department Deputy Secretary John Negroponte.

"Dako kaayo ang among pagpasalamat sa tabang nga gihatag sa kagamhanan sa Estados Unidos", si Presidente Arroyo nagkanayon.

Ang Estados Unidos misa-ad nga mohatag og balor P3 milyones o $100,000 nga ayuda pina-agi sa Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

Ang barko sa US Navy nga Stockton, nga adunay mga "rescue helicopters" padulong na usab sa Isla sa Sibuyan, Romblon aron pagtabang sa pagluwas ug pagpangita sa mga pasahero sa nalunod nga MV Princess of the Stars.

Sa laing bahin, gibutyag usab ni Negroponte ang si Presidente President George W. Bush sa Estados Unidos, personal usab nga mohatag sa iyang "pasubo sa mga Pilipino." (PIA/Bohol)