Queen Sofia to inspect dev’t projects

Queen Sofia of Spain will inspect various development cooperation projects being funded by the Spanish government when she visits the country next week.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced yesterday that Queen Sofia will undertake a four-day visit as an official guest of the Philippine government. She is set to arrive on July 2. “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,” the DFA said. “It is a positive reflection of the Philippines’ longstanding and special partnership with Spain, most especially in the area of development cooperation,” the DFA added.

The Queen will be accompanied by 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.

The Spanish embassy said the Queen’s visit will focus on the development aid of Spain.

It will be the Queen’s third visit to the Philippines. Her earlier visits took place in 2000 and 2003.

The Queen’s visit will include activities in Metro Manila, Albay province and Zamboanga City and meeting with officials of implementing agencies and beneficiary sectors of Spanish aid.

The Spanish government’s official development assistance to the Philippines amounted to 28.9 million euros last year.

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