20 January 2006 – Consul General Minerva Jean A. Falcon of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, Canada, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Metro-Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando and Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares led a delegation of eleven mayors from Metro-Manila and Rizal province on a study tour of Vancouver, which aims to orient the mayors on Vancouver’s best practices in solid waste management, particularly in the area of landfill management and waste-to-energy technology.

The MMDA delegation visited Vancouver from 15 to 19 January 2006 upon the invitation of the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

In the course of the visit, Consul General Falcon organized a meeting of the delegation with the leaders of the Filipino community and local media.      In his remarks on behalf of the delegation at the welcome reception on 15 January 2006, Chairman Fernando briefed the community on the many improvements to the infrastructure, as well as to the cleanliness, traffic, and law and order situation in Metro-Manila.  He also lauded the Filipino community in Vancouver for its important contributions to Philippine national development, and encouraged the Filipinos to visit the Philippines.

During the community meeting, Governor Ynares and the mayors made brief presentations on their respective cities.

At the open forum, the mayors replied to queries from the community, particularly on the question of real estate ownership, possible investment opportunities, improvements to the tourism infrastructure in the Philippines and the possibility of student exchanges.

Consul General Falcon described the meeting as upbeat with a “reflection of the positive outlook of overseas Filipinos who continue to regard the Philippines as an immutable part of their lives.”

The delegation was composed of Hon. Feliciano Belmonte of Quezon City; Hon. Vicente Eusebio of Pasig City; Hon. Enrico Echiverri of Caloocan City; Hon. Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa City; Hon. Florencio Bernabe of Parañaque City; Hon. Sigfrida Tinga of Taguig City; Hon. Ma. Lourdes Fernando of Marikina City; Hon. Imelda Aguilar of Las Piñas City; Hon. Rosendo Capco of the Municipality of Pateros; and Hon. Angelito Gatlabayan of Antipolo City.  The delegation also included other officials of the MMDA.  END
 
 

/bjg