PH Ambassador to US Stresses Economic, Science Diplomacy in SoCal Visit
Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez (left, in barong) dialogues with select business sector representatives. Also present are Consul General AdelioAngelitoS.Cruz (fourth from right) and Political and Economic Officer Consul Rea G. Oreta (third from right). (Los Angeles PCG photo)
LOS ANGELES 10 October 2019 — Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez embarked on his first official visit to Southern California on 13 to 16 September 2019 as part of his efforts to reach out to the Filipino-Americans who are spread throughout the continental United States.
During the three-day visit, discussions on trade, investment, and science and technology— sectors that comprise the most strategic areas of interests laid out in the 2017-2022 Strategic Plan of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as well as the Philippine Development Plan—were undertaken by Ambassador Romualdez.
The visit comes at a time of heightened interest in and anticipation of the proposed Free Trade Agreement between the Philippines and United States, especially with the conclusion of negotiations of the United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement last year.
The Ambassador engaged in a discussion with representatives of select economic agencies in Los Angeles, namely the Los Angeles Metro, Global Research Institute for International Trade (GRITT) and Ever Win International Corp, at the Consulate General in Chicago on 15 September 2019.
The Ambassador highlighted the positive developments taking place in the Philippines and opportunities for investments, such as the “Build, Build, Build” program, New Clark City, and many other mass transportation projects, which open answers for cooperation arrangements with LA Metro.
Earlier on the same day, the Ambassador also spent time with the SoCal-based Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC) headed by Gerry Palon and Ellen Samson. COFACC was founded by 15 Filipino American business entrepreneurs and professionals representing five Filipino American Chambers of Commerce in Southern California.
The growth of Filipino-American chambers of commerce speaks of the transformative aspect of the Philippine Government’s economic development narrative, that is, transforming the Filipino mindset to becoming an investor and entrepreneur. Ambassador Romualdez encouraged COFACC members to invest in the Philippines now given the remarkable growth of the country’s economy.
The Ambassador’s three-day visit was concluded with discussions on a possible cancer research collaboration between the Philippines and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a general medical and surgical facility as well as a teaching hospital.
The Philippines’ interest in Cedars-Sinai is reflective of the Philippine Government’s thrust to promote science and technology under the Zero to 10-Point Socio Economic Agenda of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The Department of Foreign Affairs, in particular, looks to science diplomacy as part of the Philippine Government’s attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and the work it has started to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Cedars-Sinai has been ranked as among the top 10 best hospitals in the United States aside from having a topnotch cancer research facility. It has an ongoing cancer research program, focusing on the Filipino-American community, which was based on initial observations that breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among Asians.
During the meeting held at noon on 16 September 2019, the Ambassador expressed his support for said research program. “I would like to see more cooperation between organizations like Cedars-Sinai and the Philippines to share information and give our people the chance to live longer,” he added.
Modern medicine and exchange of training and best practices in the field of nursing are also among the potential areas for cooperation between the Philippines and Cedars-Sinai.
Joining the Ambassador in all the meetings were Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. Minister and Consul Gunther Emil M. Sales, Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, and Deputy Consul General Ambrosio Brian F. Enciso III, Consul Rea G. Oreta, Information Officer Mary Grace “Joss” D. Leaño and Protocol Officer Fernan M. Balicoco of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles.
Southern California, aside from being home to more than 800,000 Filipino-Americans, is an important economic partner of the Philippines, being home to two strategic ports and several Fortune 500 companies, some of which have eyed the Philippines as a potential investment destination.
The Philippines also enjoys a thriving relationship with the City of Los Angeles, the seat of the country’s representation in Southern California, with which two cities in Metro Manila—Makati and Pasig, respectively—have sister-city and sister-river arrangements. END
Ambassador Romualdez (in barong) with from left Filipino-American Executive Planning Officer Emmanuel Liban, Filipino-American Project Manager Bernard Chan, Strategic Business Vice President Shyen Wang, and GRIIT Chief Executive Officer and founder Sarita Jackson. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
Ambassador Romualdez (seated, sixth from right) with his delegation and COFACC officials.(Los Angeles PCG photo)
Ambassador Romualdez during his meeting with the representatives from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
For more information, visit https://www.philippineconsulatela.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLA/.