30 October 2014 – Filipino diplomats in Canada, led by Ambassador Petronila Garcia, met in Vancouver from October 17 to 18 for a two-day workshop to map out strategies to intensify trade, investment and tourism between the Philippines and Canada.
The group likewise discussed consular matters with a view to harmonizing and streamlining requirements and procedures for passport, notarial, civil registry and dual citizenship applications.
Other participants were career diplomatic and consular officers from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver, the Philippine honorary consular officials in Edmonton, Halifax and Winnipeg, the labor attachés in Toronto and Vancouver, as well as the trade attaché in New York, and the agriculture and defense attachés in Washington D.C., USA.
Ambassador Garcia said that Team Philippines in Canada is working towards further expanding bilateral relations between the Philippines and Canada and preparing for the planned visit of President Benigno S. Aquino III to Canada in 2015.
On the sidelines of the consular and economic diplomacy workshops, Ambassador Garcia and some members of the delegation met with British Columbia. Minister for International Trade and Multiculturalism Teresa Wat to discuss and assess Philippines- British Columbia economic relations.
Ambassador Garcia told Minister Wat she is hopeful that trade between the Philippines and the Canadian province would increase, considering the “maturity of relations” between them.
The group likewise met with businessmen doing business or looking to do business in the Philippines. Among these was the Aquilini Investment Group, which has invested US$ 25 million in a waste-to-energy plant at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) complex in Mactan, Cebu.
John Negrin, President of the Aquilini Renewable Energy, told the delegation that Aquilini is looking to expand its investments to other areas like agriculture, aquaculture, housing, and infrastructure development.
“We’re in this for the long haul,” Negrin said, assuring the group that the Aquilini Group, owner of the Vancouver Canucks, has great confidence in the Philippine economy.
The trade, agriculture and labor delegates also met with representatives of Asian food retailer T&T and frozen yogurt chain owner Warrick Chu to explore ways of promoting or increasing Philippine exports to Canada.
Agriculture Attaché Joysiline Javelosa, met in Victoria with Stacey Toews, co-founder of Level Ground Marketing, a company promoting fair trade in agricultural commodities and directly dealing with small farmers in developing countries, including the Philippines.
Level Ground is already importing and retailing natural coconut oil and specialty heirloom rice varieties from the Philippines, but is looking to import more products that would pass their stringent nutrition, safety and health content criteria.
Members of the delegation likewise met with Alan Yong, president and CEO of the Filipino weekly Philippine Canadian Inquirer and long distance service provider TimesTel. Yong is seeking Philippine government support for Invest Philippines, and an investment and tourism expo road show he proposes to be held in Vancouver and Toronto.
In a display of solidarity and support for the overseas voting campaign, Team Philippines in Canada led by Ambassador Garcia also made a visit to the cruise ship M/S Grand Princess at the Port of Vancouver to meet the Filipino crew and register them for the 2016 national elections.
A side event of the two-day workshops was the official inauguration of the new premises of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver.
The inauguration was held on October 17 and was attended by Filipino community members and Filipino diplomats, with Ambassador Garcia as guest of honor. Minister Wat and Members of Parliament Andrew Saxton of North Vancouver and Wai Young of Vancouver South were also present as guests.
In his remarks at the event, Consul General in Vacouver Neil Ferrer said that the move to the new premises is part of the Consulate General’s commitment to better serve its growing clientele and effectively deliver its expanding range of services as well as enhance Philippine official representation in Western Canada.
A community gathering was held later in the evening over dinner at Max’s Restaurant on Kingsway street, where Ambassador Garcia was formally welcomed by leaders and members of the Filipino community of British Columbia. END