PH Consul General to San Francisco Calls On Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Wilsonville Mayor, Meets Fil-Am Community Leaders in Oregon
SALEM, OREGON 03 April 2023 – Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer paid a courtesy call on Oregon Governor Tina Kotek at the Governor’s Ceremonial Office in the State Library on 27 March 2023.
Consul General Ferrer extended his congratulations to Governor Kotek on her successful election as Governor in November 2022. The Governor warmly welcomed the Consul General to Oregon.
Consul General Ferrer and Governor Kotek explored possible areas of cooperation between Oregon and the Philippines, particularly in expanding trade, investment, and people-to-people ties.
The two sides also discussed the contributions of the Filipino Americans in the state, and discussed ways on how to assist small businesses. The two officials discussed challenges faced by the Filipino American community in Oregon and possible ways to address these.
Governor Kotek is the 39th Governor of the State of Oregon. She was the longest serving speaker in Oregon’s history before running for Governor.
On the same day, Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer paid a courtesy call on Mayor Julie Fitzgerald of the City of Wilsonville in Oregon and met with Filipino American community leaders in Oregon at the Wilsonville City Hall.
During the call on Mayor Fitzgerald, Consul General Ferrer thanked the Mayor for hosting his meeting with the Filipino American community leaders in the City Hall, and highlighted the invaluable contribution of Filipino Americans in the growth and development of Oregon.
Consul General Ferrer and Mayor Fitzgerald explored possible trade opportunities for Wilsonville and the Philippines, particularly in agricultural products. The Consul General sought the Mayor’s support in encouraging companies based in Wilsonville to consider the Philippines as a trading and investment partner, should they plan to expand in Asia.
The two sides also discussed possible collaboration in the conduct of consular outreach missions by the Consulate.
After the call, Consul General Ferrer met with the Filipino American community leaders in Oregon. During the meeting, the Consul General updated the community on forthcoming activities of the Consulate including the consular outreach mission in Tigard, Oregon in April and the 2023 Very Important Pinoy Tour in July. He shared that the Philippines will be featured during the World Beat Festival in June in Salem, Oregon and sought the support of the leaders in making Philippine participation a success.
The community leaders updated the Consulate of their activities and forthcoming projects. They also discussed the various challenges faced by the members of the Filipino American community in the state and how the community groups are lending support and assistance towards addressing these issues.
The community meeting with the Consul General was attended by the leaders from the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce in Oregon (PACCO), Coalition of Filipino-American Associations (CFAA), Filipino-American Association of Portland and Vicinity, Inc., Filipino Bayanihan Center, and National Federation of Filipino- American Association (NaFAA) -Oregon. END
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek (third from right) and Consul General Neil Ferrer (second from right) with (From left to right) Mrs. Vivian Tadeo, Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Honorary Consul to Oregon Enrico Tadeo and Ms. Janice Mason, President of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce in Oregon. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer during his call with Mayor Julie Fitzgerald of the City of Wilsonville in Oregon on 27 March 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Consul General Ferrer met with the Filipino American community leaders in Oregon. (San Francisco PCG photo)
For more information, visit https://www.sanfranciscopcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippinessanfrancisco.org, https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/ or https://www.instagram.com/phlinsf/.