3 September 2010 - The Philippine Government has given clearance to a United States naval carrier fleet to conduct a four-day goodwill visit starting September 4.
The USS George Washington Naval Carrier Fleet will dock at the Manila Bay, near the SM Mall of Asia, for command level visits, routine ship replenishment, maintenance of shipboard systems and crew liberty. Philippine Navy officers will welcome the fleet which is made up of four ships - aircraft carrier USS George Washington, cruiser USS Cowpens, and destroyers USS John S. McCain and the USS McCampbell - manned by some 7,000 crew members.This is the second time that they visited the country, the first being in August 2009.
The visit is a reaffirmation of the vibrant bilateral ties beween the Philippines and the United States, and is expected to be a boon to local economy, particularly to the tourism sector.
The crew will conduct community relations activities, which include painting of school buildings and hospital wards, medical missions and band concerts starting September 5.
During its visit last year, around US$7 million were spent in hotel bookings, sight-seeing, shopping and other activities. Some of the crew's family members also visited the country to meet up with their loved ones.