Washington–President Benigno S. Aquino III will be in the nation’s capital for an official visit, most likely in April. Aquino’s three-day visit will be highlighted by an Oval Office meeting with President Barack Obama

Ambassador to the U.S. Jose L. Cuisia Jr. said the invitation was for June. Given the presidential campaign schedule, “we’re working to have it held earlier, maybe in April or May.”

Bilateral issues to be taken up include the maritime territorial defense, the economy and anti-terror cooperation, Cuisia said at an embassy media reception on December 14

He added the Philippines is “hoping to get a second (Hamilton class) cutter” noting, “it’s up to the U.S. Congress” when this will take place. In August last year, the U.S. turned over a Hamilton class cutter to its treaty ally.

Cuisia also said he was optimistic the U.S. Congress will pass Save Our Industries Act this year, citing the “strong support of Senator Inouye.” Speaker Pro Tempore Daniel K. Inouye, the powerful chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has “been a champion of the Philippines,” he added.

Cuisia has enlisted the help of the community members in writing their congressmen and senators to co-sponsor Save Act.

He urged the media “to get the Filipino Americans to vote and have a voice in shaping policy.” He said there should be more elected top officials who are Filipino Americans, noting there are currently two representatives. These are Congressmen Bobby Scott (D, VA) and Steve Austria (R, Ohio).

Cuisia lamented that only 270,000 Filipino Americans voted in the 2008 presidential and congressional elections. Some 3 million of Philippine ancestry live in the U.S., mostly in California in the West Coast, Hawaii and in the New York-New Jersey area here in the East Coast.