Queen Sofia arriving Monday afternoon for 4-day visit

Spain's Queen Sofia is to arrive Monday afternoon to kick off a four-day visit in the Philippines.

 

A plane carrying the Queen is scheduled to arrive in Manila at 4:30 p.m., radio dzBB reported Monday morning.

 

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Queen, during her visit, will personally inspect development cooperation projects with funding assistance from the Spanish government.

 

“The upcoming visit of Queen Sofia is a reaffirmation of Spain’s commitment towards addressing the myriad developments and challenges the Philippines and the rest of the world are facing today. It is a positive reflection of the Philippines’ long-standing and special partnership with Spain, most especially in the area of development cooperation,” the DFA said in a news release posted last week.

 

With her will be Spain’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jesus Gracia Aldaz, Chief of Secretariat of the Royal Household General Jose Cabrera Garcia, and other high-ranking officials from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Queen Sofia will visit AECID-assisted projects in Manila and in the provinces, as well as meet with officials of implementing agencies and beneficiary sectors.

 

She will also visit the National Library, the National Museum and the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

 

The DFA noted the cooperation projects in the Philippines are being implemented through Spain's development cooperation agency, Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID).

 

In 2011, the Spanish government’s official development assistance to the Philippines amounted to 28.9 million Euros in grants and loans.

 

The implemented programs and projects are aligned with the Philippine government's development priorities, particularly in democratic governance and citizen’s participation, basic social needs, environment, culture and development, gender and development, and the prevention of conflict and peace-building.

 

Capping Queen Sofia's visit will be a private audience in Malacañang with President Benigno Aquino III, which will be followed by a banquet hosted by Aquino.

 

"Philippines-Spain relations have steadily grown through the years marked by sustained cooperation in the fields of education, culture, sports, agriculture and fisheries, tourism, energy, health, labor, social security, defense and mutual legal assistance," the DFA said.

 

In 2011, Spain ranked as the Philippines’ 28th largest trading partner with total bilateral trade amounting to $329.6 million. — RSJ, GMA News