Seven foreign dignitaries set foot in WV in 2009
Western Visayas could be one of the most visited places in the country by various foreign dignitaries not only for its tourist attractions but also for its potentials in agriculture and trade, likewise to extend support to several significant programs and projects.
Iloilo and Aklan, because of its Boracay Island, are the top two destinations of foreign envoys during their visit to the region.
The first to visit Iloilo was South African Ambassador to the Philippines Pieter Andries Vermeulen and his wife Christina.
During his visit on February 20, Vermeulen said that he looked forward to the development of the agriculture industry not only in the area of trade and but also in research once the proposed bilateral agreement on agriculture between his country and the Philippines was finalized and adopted.
The cooperation was initiated last year and both countries “are fairly close to finding an agreement on the text.”
Another area of cooperation that is in existence is on biofuels, especially on jatropha, where he revealed that there are already companies between the two countries that have been doing joint research.
After Vermeulen was United States Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney who met with victims of typhoon “Frank” in Pavia and several groups that were extended assistance by the US government.
In addition, she also joined US Peace Corps Volunteers deployed in Guimaras, Iloilo and Antique who are working in the areas of education, youth development and environmental conservation and protection and helping improve lives of citizens and children through partnership with local institutions and had interactions with selected students of the Jaro National High School where one Peace Corps Volunteer was assigned to co-teach the English language.
Several Ilonggo World War II veterans were also given a chance to interact with Kenny when she viewed the photo exhibits of the Liberation of Panay, Guimaras and Romblon, the place where the fiercest battle against the Japanese Imperial Forces happened 64 years ago, mounted at the SM City.
Kenney also visited Teletech, a United States business process outsourcing company that was inaugurated by President Gloria Arroyo in March which employs some 1,600 Ilonggos.
Almost a month after the visit of Ambassador Kenney, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith set foot in Iloilo City and Guimaras for a series of engagements.
Smith led the turnover of 15 computer units for Jaro National High School (JNHS) which was part of responses received by the city government when it called for help in the rehabilitation of school submerged or destroyed by floodwaters caused by typhoon Frank.
All of the school’s 65 computers were damaged.
The donation can benefit around 3,000 students of the JNHS.
Smith also graced the launching of the Phase II of the “Ready” project or the Hazards Mapping and Assessment for Effective Community-Based Disaster Risk Management that “aims to empower the most vulnerable municipalities and cities in the country and enable them to prepare disaster risk management plans.”
The project is being supported by the Australian government through its Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Asian Development Bank and a telecommunications firm.
His last stop during his April 16 visit was the province of Guimaras where he also led the launching of an Australian supported project that is expected to boost the agri-tourism potentials of the province.
In September, British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie visited Iloilo for the first time and visited projects that were given assistance by the government of the United Kingdom and two other British bio-energy projects–the Shell UK and the Global Green Power.
Ambassador Lillie was the guest of honor during the gathering of local government units from Luzon and Visayas that are recipients of the Project Alternative Financing Options for Local Government Units (ALFI), which is funded by the UK government in partnership with the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).
The project, Lillie said, was inspired by their goal to “contribute to the development of governance in the Philippines, particularly economic governance, assist local governments in providing high quality services to local people.”
Project ALFI provides technical assistance to LGUs starting from training, mentoring and implementation of their selected projects.
To date, 16 municipalities from Luzon and Visayas are being assisted by Project ALFI.
Meanwhile, last November 4, Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura led the turnover of some 26,135 metric tons or 522,700 bags of ammonium sulphate fertilizers to the Philippine government in a ceremony held in Iloilo City.
The assistance is under the 2KR 31st Japan Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers which comes in four batches.
The first shipment of about 6,635 metric tons arrived in Davao last October to benefit farmers from Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte and South Cotabato.
The second shipment of about 6,000 metric tons arrived at the Iloilo Port to benefit farmers in Negros Occidental and Iloilo.
The third and final shipment composed of 6,000 metric tons and 7,500 metric tons arrived at Zambales for farmers from provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Isabela and Cagayan Valley and Tarlac, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija, respectively.
Under the project, the fertilizers are bidded out by the government to distributors who will sell the commodity in a lower price to rice farmers who are using certified seeds and good seeds in provinces covered by the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Rice Program.
The proceeds of the sale will be used to finance social development and agriculture and fishery-related projects to be identified by the Regional Agri-Fishery Council.
Meanwhile, the island of Boracay in Aklan accommodated the visits of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare last March 30 and Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah al Dardari on November 24.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hosted a state dinner for Somare who was accompanied by Lady Veronica Somare at the beach front of the sprawling Shangri-La Resort Boracay.
Arroyo and Somare witnessed the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding on Fisheries Cooperation that concretized the two country’s “commitment to sustainable development” of the fishing industry.
In the meantime, Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah al Dardari met with several businessmen from Western Visayas and extended an invitation to players of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the Philippines to interact with their counterpart in Syria.
Al Dardari, during his visit, was accompanied by Political and Media Advisor of the Syrian Presidency Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban.
They also met with top officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) led by Secretary Peter Favila where they finalized the bilateral agreement of the two countries that started in Damascus, Syria.
The agreement was signed in Malacanang last week of November and witnessed by President Arroyo. (PNA)
