14 August 2014 - Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem, Jr. accompanied by Administrative Officer Bernardo Bagalay and Philippine Honorary Consul to Honduras Atty. Tito Bendeck Bonilla met with Honduran Council of Private Enterprises (COHEP) Vice President Luis Larach at his office in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The ISO-certified council founded in 1967 currently has a roster of 70 private enterprises under its umbrella.
During the meeting, Ambassador Dilem and Mr. Larach agreed on the need to expand trade between the Philippines and Honduras.
Ambassador Dilem also informed Mr. Larach that the Philippines ranks number two in the world in terms of generating energy through geothermal power plants. Mr. Larach expressed interest in learning more about the Philippines’ existing geothermal facilities because Honduras is now in the process of putting up a similar facility.
The Ambassador invited Mr. Larach and the members of COHEP to two important trade fairs in Manila, namely FAME 2014 to be held on October and the International Food Exhibition in May 2015. He provided Mr. Larach with informational materials on both exhibits and sought his assistance in disseminating the information to the members of the council. Mr. Larach welcomed the invitation and stated that he would notify the members of COHEP of the upcoming trade exhibitions.
Ambassador Dilem also met with the Filipino community in Honduras headed by its president by Ms. Sue Avila. Also present during the meeting were Philippine Honorary Consul Tito Bendeck Bonilla and his spouse, Administrative Officer Bernardo Bagalay and Communications Officer Don Elacion.
Ambassador Dilem emphasized the importance of qualified Filipino nationals to register as overseas voters so they can exercise their right of suffrage in the 2016 presidential and senatorial elections. Ambassador Dilem also took the opportunity to promoted the campaign to have the City of Vigan named as one of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the World. He likewise underscored the economic strides currently being enjoyed by the Philippines under President Benigno S. Aquino III and the important role they play in this regard.
Ambassador Dilem also met with Philippine Honorary Consul Tito Bendeck Bonilla at his office in San Pedro Sula and discussed issues concerning Filipinos in Honduras. Consul Bendeck informed the Ambassador that his office has been in close coordination with members of the Filipino community, providing them with consular and legal services when necessary.
Consular services were provided by Ambassador Dilem, along with Mr. Don Elacion and Mr. Bagalay to the members of the Filipino community based in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. A total of 46 consular services in the form of passport applications and notarial services were rendered. The consular outreach activity was conducted at a function room of the New Holland garment factory where Ms. Avila works as an administrator. END