US Secretary of State to visit Philippines

MANILA -- United States Secretary of State John Kerry will begin his two-day visit to the Philippines on Tuesday to hold bilateral talks with government officials, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

During his visit to the country, his first as secretary of state, Kerry will meet President Benigno Aquino III and his counterpart Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to discuss bilateral and security issues.

Kerry is expected to discuss a planned "increased rotation presence" of American troops in the Philippines.

The broadening of security and economic cooperation between the US and the Philippines, strengthening of people to people exchange as well as humanitarian and disaster response are also expected to be taken up during the meeting.

The US official will also visit the city of Tacloban in the central Philippine province of Leyte to meet the victims of typhoon Haiyan, locally known as "Yolanda," and meet those involved in the relief effort.