16 April 2015 – Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia H. Benavidez and Philippine Honorary Consul General in Auckland Atty. Paulo R. Garcia welcomed the delegation from the Philippine Department of Agriculture who attended a conference and study tour in Wellington and Auckland from March 16 to 28. The delegation was composed of Agriculture Undersecretary Dennis Guerrero, Assistant Secretary Paz Benavidez of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Atty. Annaliza Vitug of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Dr. Rico Capulong of the Bureau of Animal Industry and Mr. Roberto Galang from the International Finance Group-World Bank.
The World Bank Group Trade and Competitiveness organized the event “Towards a Coordinated Border Management Approach: Connecting Customs and Quarantine Agencies.” It is aimed at exposing officials involved in agriculture, quarantine and customs from the Philippines, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and India to the successful policy experience and best practices of New Zealand in carrying out a well- coordinated border management approach focusing on connectivity of customs and quarantine agencies on risk management systems and decisions. A comprehensive and targeted program of visits, briefings and interactive sessions brought participants to the Wellington Ministry of Primary Industries, Agriculture Testing Laboratories, New Zealand Customs Service, Auckland Customhouse, Biosecurity Centre and other sites.
Ambassador Benavidez hosted a fellowship dinner for the Philippine delegation with members of the Filipino community who were formerly employed at the Department of Agriculture in the Philippines, Filipino scholars pursuing post graduate courses on Agri-Science and Veterinary Clinical Science at Massey University and Philippine Embassy officers at “Ang Bahay” (Philippine Ambassador’s residence) in Wellington on March 20. A lively interaction followed and interesting conversations focused on developments in the Philippines, the cooperative arrangements with New Zealand and possible partnership in key areas in agriculture, among others.
Honorary Consul General Garcia met with Undersecretary Guerrero, Assistant Secretary Benavidez and Mr. Galang in Auckland where they discussed the proposed dairy farm project and other developments in the dairy sector in the Philippines and New Zealand. END