24 August 2015 – Philippine Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. met with New York City’s Chief Technology Officer, Ms. Minerva L. Tantoco on August 18 at the New York City Hall.

The position of Chief Technology Offer was created under the administration of Mayor Bill De Blasio, and is the city’s way of acknowledging the importance technology plays both in the city’s needs and the lives of New York residents.

Ms. Tantoco is the city’s first-ever Chief Technology Officer, and it is a testament to her abilities that Mayor De Blasio appointed her to that position. Ms. Tantoco comes to the office with sterling credentials, having served in a variety of positions in the private sector, most recently as the Chief Technology Officer of the Union Bank of Switzerland. She holds four patents for technology-related inventions.

Consul General De Leon initially congratulated Ms. Tantoco on her appointment to the position. Ms. Tantoco expressed her desire to help the city in developing its technology policies. She mentioned that the Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation was established because of the recognition that technology is a valuable tool for economic and human development.

Ms. Tantoco shared that New York City is bent on developing its own technology sector and to keep New York on the cutting edge of technology innovation. On top of that, the city government is also trying to increase the delivery of internet services to its residents, 20% of whom have no access to technology.

Consul General De Leon and Ms. Tantoco also discussed the possibility of partnerships between Philippine and New York universities and colleges, noting that several schools in other states have already done so.

Another topic of mutual interest was intergovernmental partnership with regard to emergency management. Ms. Tantoco and the Consul General both agreed on the importance of technology in matters relating to disaster preparedness and response, especially since the Philippines has seen more than its fair share of violent typhoons, and New York has experienced getting hit by hurricanes as well.

Ms. Minerva Tantoco mentioned that the De Blasio administration has tapped many Filipinos for key positions. Aside from her, she said, there is Maria Torres Springer, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the New York Economic Development Corporation, and Carmelyn Malalis, the city’s Commissioner on Human Rights.

Ms. Tantoco was born in Manila, but migrated with her family to the United States when she was four years old. She grew up in New York’s Flushing neighborhood, and honed her skills in California’s Silicon Valley at the beginning of the technology boom, where her talent was quickly recognized.

Consul General De Leon was accompanied by Consul Kerwin Tate. Joining Ms. Tantoco during the meeting was her Chief of Staff, Sarah Knapp. END