President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is expected to run the country by remote control when she embarks on another chapter of her frequent foreign sojourns this week.

Despite stinging rebukes over her costly foreign travels, Malacanang said the President will make a state visit to Turkey before flying to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia from September 16 to September 24, scrapping an earlier plan to go to New York City.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President was invited by Turkish President Abdullah Gulto to make a daylong state visit to the Eurasian country, the only secular Muslim nation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Remonde said the President will seek to expand diplomatic and trade relations with Turkey, a known gateway to Europe, during her meetings with government and business leaders. The President is also expected to ask the support of Turkey to the Philippines’ bid for observer status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

“The President will leave on September 16 for a state visit to Turkey before going to London and Saudi Arabia. She will only stay a day in Turkey,” Remonde said.

Remonde assured that the President will limit her travel expenses and size of delegation following criticisms hurled against her frequent and expensive travels.

The additional trip to Turkey came after the President cancelled her visit to the United States supposedly to attend the United Nations General Assembly. The return to New York City was originally part of the President’s three-nation journey this month.

Remonde said the President decided to cancel her return trip to New York, where the UN headquarters situated, due to a conflict in her scheduled meeting with the Saudi king.

He said the President chose to skip the UN meeting and instead will hold talks with the Saudi monarch to discuss the welfare of overseas Filipino workers.

“The President thinks the country will obtain more benefits from her meeting with the King of Saudi rather than her attendance in the UN General Assembly in New York City,” he said.

The President’s visit to New York was still a go until Friday when an informed source revealed that it was cancelled.

Her last trip to New York City only last month drew flak for the alleged lavish dinners for her delegation in upscale restaurants in the Big Apple.

From Turkey, Remonde said the President will proceed to London to address a forum organized by The Economist magazine on September 17 and 18. Mrs. Arroyo is expected to highlight the country’s resilient economic growth despite the global economic turmoil during the high-level international conference with theme, “Globalization Redefined by Emerging Markets.”

“This is a very good development. The Philippines is considered one of the emerging markets in the world,” Remonde said.

The President’s last stop will be Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for a state visit from September 21 to 23 upon the invitation of King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz Al Saud. There are more than one million overseas Filipino workers in the oil-rich kingdom.

She is expected to return to Manila on September 24 or 25, according to Remonde.