A Malacañang official on Monday said there is no need for President Arroyo to bring up the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) during her meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

After senators called the President to take up the VFA with Clinton, Press Undersecretary Anthony Golez said the Arroyo administration doesn’t consider it a “pressing issue in a bilateral sense.”

“But, nonetheless, both sides — the Philippines and the United States — can take this opportunity to reaffirm the commitment for closer security cooperation in the region, particularly,” Golez said in a press briefing.

"Hindi naman umabot sa punto na may problema sa US and may problema din sa atin,” he said, adding that Malacañang was open to a review of the VFA.

Golez said the President will likely reassure Clinton that whatever changes the government might make on the treaty, which governs the conduct of US troops participating in joint military exercises in the country, would not jeopardize the existing strategic relations between the US and the Philippines.

“The United States is a very close ally of our country and based from our treaties with the United States, itong dalawang bansa pong ito ay talagang  nagtutulungan po, historically speaking pa, and iyun ang pinangangalagaan natin because of our traditions, heritage that is closely linked with the United States — siyempre pinangangalagaan as close ally,” Golez said.

Some senators have asked the President to take the opportunity to include the Senate resolution to revisit the decade-old pact and address its legality and constitutionality in her discussions with Clinton.

Clinton will arrive on Thursday for a 24-hour visit to the Philippines. She will arrive at the Villamor Airbase at noon and will fly to Singapore the following day for the APEC Summit.

The Philippine government maintained that the VFA remains “important, useful and relevant, not only for Philippine national interest but also for regional peace, security, and prosperity.”