26 March 2014 - Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo and his delegation completed their two-day visit which highlighted the dynamism of Philippines-Spain bilateral relations founded on strong historical and cultural ties and robust trade and investments.
Minister Margallo was accompanied by a sizable group of officials from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Spanish International Cooperation Agency, Spanish Economic Ministry and representatives of major Spanish business conglomerates. Minister Margallo met with Philippine captains of industries and members of the Makati Business Club where he presented the MarcaEspaña initiative of the Spanish Government and various potential areas of business cooperation.
While in Manila, the Minister called on President Benigno S.Aquino III and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo. Minister Margallo also headed the Spanish delegation to the high-level political consultations which discussed the whole range of Philippines-Spain bilateral relations.
Minister Margallo visited the Bangkal High School in Makati which implements a Spanish language program in partnership with the Embassy of Spain and Instituto Cervantes. He then proceeded toTacloban City and Tolosa. While in Tacloban, the Minister visited a regional hospital, checked the status of relief and rehabilitation efforts initiated by Spain, and made a donation of 400 boats to fisher folks from Sta. Rita, Samar. Minister Margallo also visited an aid distribution center of the Department of Social Welfare and Development which is supported by Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) and the World Food Program. Spain donated more than US$ 4.8 million in humanitarian assistance to hard-hit areas in Central Visayas.
After Tacloban, the Spanish delegation flew to Pampanga to inaugurate the Humanitarian Assistance Emergency Warehouse at Clark Airbase. The warehouse is the first of several facilities planned by the Office of Civil Defense-National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and designed for quick response to national emergencies. END