13 September 2016 — Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Evan P. Garcia met with the 6 U.K. Parliamentarian set to visit the Philippines from September 19 to 23. The visit is part of the British Group-Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (BGIPU) program of bilateral visits between Westminster and IPU member parliaments.
Ambassador Garcia, along with Deputy Chief of Mission Gilberto Asuque, warmly met the parliamentarians at Westminster Palace and briefed them on current Philippine political and economic conditions and the arrangements being made for their welcome in the country. The visiting delegation consists of members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords who are also members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Philippines in the U.K. Parliament.
In addition to visiting their counterparts at the House of Representatives and the Senate, the group will also be calling on key officials and receive briefings from the various sectors of Philippine government, economy, and society. They are also scheduled to visit British investments and charities operating in the Philippines.
The last bilateral contact between the 2 parliaments was in 2009 when a group of Philippine parliamentarians visited Westminster under the same IPU program. U.K. parliamentarians last visited the Philippines in 2003.
This year’s visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Philippine-British diplomatic relations. END