MALACA?ANG will watch US President Barack Obama?s first 100 days to see what he does about the credit crisis and other pressing problems, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said yesterday.

He said President Arroyo herself watched Obama?s inaugural address because his policies would directly affect the Philippines, a close ally.

?The major issue at hand is the economic downturn. We want to see what measures the new President can take to pull them out of the rot they are in,? Ermita said.

?The security issues include the pulling out of the US soldiers in Iraq and the dismantling of the Guantanamo prison. There might be foreign policy changes because of their need to address the economic problem.?

Mrs. Arroyo supported US President George W. Bush?s invasion of Iraq. She even sent a humanitarian contingent to the strife-torn country.

Ermita said Mrs. Arroyo would definitely be meeting with Obama within the year, and perhaps at the United Nations? General Assembly in September or at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November. Joyce Pangco Pa?ares