By Miriam P. Aquino

Manila (1 July) -- More investment commitments, job potentials, and pledges of interest by some business leaders in the United States (US) are just but a few of the "positive results" which makes the 10-day working visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the US a worthwhile one and not just a "useless junket" like what her critics say.

Deputy Spokesperson Lorelie Fajardo, in defense to the intrigues being stoned out to the President regarding her trip to the US, said that it was indeed a "very productive" one because in New York alone, she got seven potential business calls from big companies who committed a potential 15,700 jobs and two of these companies are the renowned fruit grower Libby's and electronics firm Texas Instruments.

There is an additional investment potential to which the country may earn up to US$560-million not to mention the pledges from our overseas kababayans there in aid to the typhoon victims, Fajardo added.

The passage of the long-awaited Philippine Veterans Bill by the US Senate is one step ahead, and the President has expressed confidence that the US Congress would also pass the bill after some of the congressional leaders proved a majority of support for the Philippine veterans.