30 April 2015 – To strengthen the One Country Team Approach in Italy, the Philippine Embassy in Rome held a Planning Session on April 22 for the honorary consular officers from the Philippine Consulates in Cagliari, Florence, Napoli, Palermo and Turin. Also in attendance was the Philippine Consulate General in Milan.

Philippine Ambassador to Rome Domingo P. Nolasco, in his remarks, emphasized the importance of ensuring a cohesive action in the promotion of Philippine interests in Italy, focusing on the three key pillars of the Philippine Foreign Policy: national security, economic diplomacy and promoting and protecting the rights of Filipino migrants and their families.

Ambassador Nolasco also shared instructions from President Benigno S. Aquino III, specifically, a) to strengthen Philippine-Italian partnership especially in the field of trade, investment, tourism, defense and security, human rights, climate change, and in the campaign against trafficking and terrorism; b) to inform the government of Italy on the Philippine position with regard to the West Philippine Sea; and c) to promote Philippine tourism (Visit Philippines Year 2015).

The outcome document of the session was a Consolidated Work Plan, outlining the commitments and plans of the Consulates for 2015, in line with the priorities of the Philippine Government. END