PH Consulate General in Los Angeles Joins Consular Corps in Virtual Briefing by Los Angeles Mayor

(Photos by Joss Leaño)

LOS ANGELES 27 July 2020  – The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, led by Philippine Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, participated in a virtual COVID-19 briefing by Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti for the members of the Los Angeles City Consular Corps. The briefing was held on 20 July 2020 via Zoom with a total of 75 participants from the City’s consular community.

Mayor Garcetti thanked the members of the Consular Corps for their cooperation and assistance as the City braves the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He mentioned that Los Angeles has benefitted from the exchange of best practices and lessons learned from friends in the consular community.

The Mayor also highlighted the role and successes of cities in coming together to exchange information and provide assistance, especially through the C40 Cities, a group of world-leading cities working towards climate change action, which he currently chairs.

As Los Angeles continues to be the epicenter of California’s COVID-19 outbreak, Mayor Garcetti assured the Consular Corps that his government will continue to give timely guidance and reminded the participants of the importance of being informed of the City’s reopening protocols, social distancing measures, wearing facemasks, downsizing operations and encouraging telecommute for work that can be done at home.

The Mayor, in his parting words, urged the consular community to not be “…afraid to be bold and brave as we face a new future. We are not alone and we never are”.

The Mayor was joined by Deputy Mayor for International Affairs Nina Hachigian who opened the meeting, and the Mayor’s Office Director for International Relations, Policy, and Protocol Dilpreet Siddhu.

Consul General Cruz was joined by Political Officer Consul Rea G. Oreta and Information Officer Mary Grace “Joss” D. Leaño in the said virtual briefing.

The Consulate General resumed consular operations on 15 June 2020 in strict compliance with local protocols for public health and safety, which has been noted and earned the praise of consular clients who posted online comments relating how they felt safe and secure because of the Consulate General’s orderly and strict social-distancing, and sanitation protocols. END

For more information, visit https://www.philippineconsulatela.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLA/.