The DFA and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental Organize Familiarization Tour for Resident Foreign Ambassadors

PHOTO – Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson (standing, 8R) receives the diplomats and the DFA officials, who were joined by local officials during the welcome gala dinner at the Provincial Capitol Building.

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 27 March 2024 – The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Public Diplomacy, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental headed by Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson, organized a familiarization tour of Negros Occidental for Foreign Heads of Mission and their spouses on 22-24 March 2024. Sixteen (16) diplomats representing 12 Embassies in Manila namely Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Hungary, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Thailand, and Timor-Leste  joined the tour. Governor Lacson hosted a welcome gala dinner for the participants at the Social Hall of the historic Provincial Capitol Building on 22 March 2024. 

The tour provided the diplomats the opportunity to explore and learn about the province’s culture, various tourism and business opportunities, as well as meet its local officials and other stakeholders. One of the highlights of the familiarization tour is an   Investment Forum hosted by the Negros Occidental Investment and Promotion Centre. The forum served as a venue for introducing the priority industries of the province in terms of investment and trade, as well as its flagship Public and Private-Partnership (PPP) projects. It was held at the Negros Residences on 23 March 2024. The forum concluded with a Q&A session during which the foreign diplomats  actively inquired on the current infrastructure projects of the province and possible collaboration in the agriculture sector.  

The other important activities held during the familiarization tour were the meetings with the Governor and the mayors of some towns and cities of the province, hosted meals in Bacolod’s top restaurants Balai Puti and Lanai, visits to cultural and tourism sites such as the Ruins, the Heritage City of Silay, the Art District in Bacolod City, the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Municipality of Murcia and the Victorias Milling Company in the City of Victorias.  

The diplomats were also given the opportunity to buy Negros-made products including food, furniture, and home/fashion accessories in the Abanse (Technology and Livelihood Development Center) and Association of Negros Producers (ANP) showrooms in Bacolod City.

The foreign diplomats were accompanied during the visit to Negros Occidental by DFA-OPD personnel led by Assistant Secretary Arvin de Leon.  Other DFA officials present in the activities were Asec Celia Anna Feria (Office of Cultural Diplomacy), Asec. Patrick John Hilado (Office of Asset Management and Support Service), Asec. Maria Teresa Almojuela (Office of United Nations and other International Organizations), Asec. Maria Elena Algabre (Office of European Affairs),  Asec. Mardomel Celo Melicor (Office of Middle East and African Affairs) and Acting Director Charles Lawrence Ching (Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs).  

After the familiarization tour, the participating diplomats expressed appreciation to the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and DFA for the various arrangements and activities during their stay in Bacolod City. This familiarization tour is a follow-up activity to the equally successful visit  also organized by OPD for  Manila-based Heads of Diplomatic Missions  to Dagupan City, Pangasinan in time for the city’s  Bangus Festival in April 2023. END

Atty. Rey Diaz (standing), Provincial Administrator of Negros Occidental, delivers his opening message during the investment forum.

The participating foreign diplomats and DFA officials  listen to the presentations on the investment priorities and flagship PPP projects of the province of Negros Occidental.

The diplomats and DFA officials with the owner of Lanai Restaurant, Mr. Ramon “Chin-Chin” Uy, Jr., after their dinner at this farm-to-table, slow food  restaurant serving Negrense dishes using organic ingredients.

The delegation enjoy the dipping sulfur pool (hot spring) at the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Mr. Charlie Co (4th from left), founder of Orange Project, an initiative that aims to support local artists and elevate art consciousness in the Negros Occidental receives the delegation at their showroom located at the Art District in Bacolod City.

The delegation visits the St. Joseph the Worker Church, which is also known as the Angry Christ Church, located at the Victorias Milling Company; present during the visit are Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and officials of the milling company.

Diplomats and DFA officials receive a briefing from Ms. Arlene Infante, President,Association of Negros Producers (ANP) at the ANP Showroom

The diplomats and DFA officials pose for a souvenir photo at the Abanse Showroom after shopping local delicacies. 

The delegation at The Ruins, an ancestral mansion built on a sugar plantation in Talisay City in the early 1900s