Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

I am pleased to inform you of developments arising from the on-going conference of the “6th RP Consuls General in the US”.

The various sessions held yesterday and this morning highlighted and reiterated the theme of ONE VISION, ONE MISSION, ONE VOICE vis-à-vis the furtherance of Philippine foreign policy priorities, particularly national security, economic security and service to Filipino nationals.

In pursuit of our one-country team diplomacy, the sessions on the country’s economic diplomacy program on trade, investment and tourism by our foreign service posts in North America were conducted with DOT Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano, Senior  Trade Undersecretary Tomas Aquino and the Tourism Attaches and several Trade Attaches posted in the US.

First and foremost, our US-based diplomats, under the able leadership of Ambassador Albert del Rosario, committed to pursue the country’s national interests and goals of contributing to national peace and security, trade and investment promotion, assistance to Filipinos and cultural and public diplomacy.

Among others, the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC has successfully expanded its network in the US, that includes a RP-US Friendship Caucus, to better and fully articulate Philippine position on various issues of national concern. It has continuously coordinated with various branches of the US Government in providing support to the country’s peace process and capacity-building program towards socio-economic development.

On labor, the Embassy has been able to capture additional slots for the allocation of EB3 visas for our nurses that will result to an incremental 3,500 Filipino nurses and health workers in the US. On the pending matter pertaining to telecommunications, the U.S. Department of Justice will no longer pursue the case against Filipino telecommunications companies.

The Consuls’ General and Honorary Consuls General reached an agreement to launch on a regular basis, proposed at least twice a year,  its Ambassador’s and Consuls’ General Tour, arising from its highly successful 1st Ambassador’s and Consuls’ General Tour that preceded this conference and which saw, in the words of Secretary Durano, the largest ever group of tourists from the US. Upon the recommendation of Secretary Durano, the Department of Foreign Affairs and  DOT will establish a permanent  Task Force on the Ambassador’s and Consuls’ General Tour.

On trade and investments, our Heads of Missions in the US agreed to pursue a work program with a sectoral focus on Philippine strategic trade and investment niches in the US particularly in  IT-enabled services, design-driven products and health and wellness.

Its mandate of assistance to nationals will remain one of its primary tasks in the service of the 2.3 million Filipinos in the US (based on 2000 US Census). Our Consuls General and Honorary Consuls General have acknowledged the enormous contributions our countrymen have given to their resident country and their country of birth.

The conference, continuing at this hour, will  also tackle other matters, including administrative, consular and budgetary matters. The two-day discussion is expected to produce a work plan for Philippine posts in North America that will further strategize the conduct of the country’s foreign policy with the US.

 I commend Ambassador del Rosario, our Consuls General and Honorary Consuls General in the US for a truly laudable undertaking that speaks of unswerving commitment and dedication in the service of the country and the Filipino people.  END
 
 

/bjg