PRESIDENT ARROYO AWARDED THE TEDDY ROOSEVELT INTERNATIONAL
CONSERVATION AWARD
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16 APRIL 2010, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was awarded the Teddy
Roosevelt International Conservation Award for “Innovative Leadership to Protect Oceans and Preserve the
Biodiversity of the Coral Triangle” by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF). The awarding
ceremony was held at the Cannon House Office Building at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
With over 300 guests comprised of members of the US Congress, US government officials, distinguished NGO
leaders and representatives, and other key dignitaries, President Arroyo underscored the global responsibility of
environmental stewardship in her remarks saying, “we have a moral obligation to the next generation to protect
the beauty and bounty of the land, air and sea for the rest of time. I am honored to represent the Philippines in
this noble effort.”
The Coral Triangle is a vast area of ocean land containing rich marine biodiversity in the seas of the Philippines,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. Cited as a major food source, the
President emphasized that the task of sustaining it not only rests on the six countries overseeing governance in
the area but that of the entire human population.
“Nowhere is our interconnectedness with the world more profound than the resources we all truly share. It is
truly a global environment. We must all do our part to conserve it, grow it, sustain it,” the President added.
Realizing the significance of harmonizing economic growth and environmental preservation, some of the
policies and foundations laid down by the President under the Green Philippines Initiative, which include the
Biofuels and Renewable Energy Laws, the Climate Change Act and the Integrated Coastal Management,
promote the sustainable development of healthy ecosystems.
The award was presented by US Rep. Ed Royce of California and US Rep. John Tanner of Tennessee, together
with ICCF President John Gannt, Jr.
Global Environment Facility CEO Monique Barbut also launched the International Year of Biodiversity during the
awarding ceremony.
Named after the conservationist President Theodore Roosevelt, President Arroyo is the fourth recipient of this
prestigious award for leadership in conservation policy. She joins Director Rob Portman of the U.S. Office of
Management and Budget (2006), former Prime Minister Tony Blair of United Kingdom (2007) and Prince Albert II
of Monaco (2009). END.
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PGMA returns from fruitful visits to US, Spain
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo this afternoon returned from her fruitful diplomatic engagements in the
United States and Spain and immediately called a briefing of her Cabinet and senior military officers at the VIP
Lounge of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Her arrival statement distributed to media said her participation in the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.
C. put the spotlight on the Philippines’ vital role as president of the Review Conference on the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty slated in New York this May.
The summit was the largest-ever gathering of countries to tackle nuclear security issues participated in by 38
heads of states, representatives from nine other countries, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, International
Atomic Emergency Agency head Dr. Amano and European Council President Van Rompuy.
The President cited the grave threat of nuclear weapons and materials falling into the hands of terrorists and
other non-state actors adding that the Philippines’ global workforce takes a strong position against nuclear
terrorism.
According to the President, the Philippine Nuclear Security Plan drawn up in 2009 by the Philippine National
Research Institute (PNRI), the country’s nuclear regulatory authority, and the International Atomic Energy Agency
[IAEA] include measures to secure vulnerable nuclear materials and to deter and combat nuclear smuggling
and nuclear terrorism.
Her call for the implementation of the Additional Protocol of the Strengthened Safeguards System—to enable
IAEA to verify whether a State is living up to its international commitments not to use nuclear programs for
weapons purposes-- was very well received in the Summit.
At the sidelines of the Summit, the President held bilateral meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza
Gillani and Morocco Prime Minister Abbas El Fasi, who both affirmed their strong support for the Philippines’ bid
for Observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
In the US Congress, the President was conferred the prestigious Teddy Roosevelt International Conservation
Award from the International Conservation Caucus Foundation and the Global Environmental Facility for her
innovative leadership to protect the oceans and preserve the biodiversity of the Coral Triangle.
She also conferred honors on US legislators Senator Richard Lugar and Representatives Jim McDermott, Chef
Edwards, Xavier Becerra, Sheila Jackson Lee, Joseph Pitts, Jackie Speier and Madeleine Bordallo for having
championed the Philippines’ national interest in Capitol Hill over the years.
President Arroyo also met with Senators Daniel Inouye and Christopher “Kit” Bond to express her appreciation
for their sponsorship of the “Save Our Industries” Act and sought the support for the measure from Senator Jim
Webb and Rep. Richard Drier.
The President said approval of the bill will be a “win win” situation for both the US and the Philippines as it will
create a whole new market for the US fabrics with the Philippines’ sophisticated needle capacity.
In Spain, the President received from King Juan Carlos I the prestigious Premio Don Quixote de la Mancha
award for her educational initiative in introducing the Spanish language in initially select public schools of the
Philippines.
She met with King Juan Carlos I and requested the King’s intercession with the Emir of Kuwait for the
commutation of the death sentence of Jakatia Pawa, a Filipina accused of murder. The King earlier intervened in
commuting the death sentence in Kuwait of Marilou Ranario and May Vecina, both now back in the Philippines.
The President also met with Tomas Pascual, chair of the Grupo Leche Pascual, one of the biggest food
conglomerate in Spain which will establish a plant in the Philippines worth 20 million euro and make the
Philippines its regional hub. It will promote the yogurt market and undertake non-refrigerated yogurt school
feeding as its corporate social responsibility.
Trade and Industry Secretary Jesli Lapus, who was with the Presidential delegation along with Press Secretary
Crispulo Icban Jr. met with Spanish firms in various stages of doing business in the Philippines namely Isolux-
Corsan, Globaltec and Centunion. These companies are engaged in investment priority projects in renewable
energy, bioethanol plants in Negros and pre-fabricated steel bridges in the rural areas.
In a welcome reception at the Ambassador’s residence, the President thanked the members of Filipino
organizations in Spain for their dedication and hard work and announced that the Driver’s License Exchange
Agreement between the Philippines and Spain will soon be implemented to allow Filipinos to use their
Philippine license while in Spain. On April , the first facility in Madrid to launch this program will benefit an
estimated 50,000 Filipinos in Spain.
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