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Fil-Spanish day in Iloilo start of era of change, renewal – Arroyo
Iloilo City (30 June 2005) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hailed the observance of Fil-Spanish Friendship Day in Iloilo as beginning of an era of renewal and change. She said that Filipino-Spanish friendship must not only be about the past but also about a continuing search for exciting opportunities.

The President also said that she was happy to celebrate the occasion in Iloilo, as Iloilo represents loving, kinship, friendship in the Filipino-Spanish relationships.

Arroyo lauded the fact that the Philippines gets the biggest share in Spain’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Asia, which can strengthen cultural links, like the putting up of technical and vocational schools for the Out of School Youth.

The economic links, the President said, can be strengthened by Spain’s funding and transfer of technology on alternative resource energy, like wind and solar energies, which are crucial to the economy of the country.

She noted that the crisis in energy has yet to be totally resolved and the development of alternative energy resources in the Philippines through Spain’s help can make solutions accessible.

The President lamented the ever increasing price of oil in the world market which hurts the Philippine economy, but added, that Spain’s strong relations with the country is providential in accelerating the economy.

On the sidelight, she cited her government’s efforts in managing the fiscal resources of the country in order for it to get out of the vicious cycle of borrowing and rely on ourselves to recover, with the help of the legislators, foremost of whom was Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Meanwhile, the President, as in her previous visits to Iloilo, profusely thanked the people and the local officials for their unwavering support to her in the midst of the critical times the country is going through. (PIA 6)

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