New ambassadors acknowledge Cebu’s vibrant economy

CEBU, Philippines - Newly appointed Philippine Ambassadors and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs were in Cebu to cap their two-week Economic Diplomacy Strategic Planning Workshop.

The workshop was started in Manila.

“Kining mga bag-ong appointed nga ambassador, nag-training mig duha ka semana sa lainlain nga aspeto. Kining Cebu mao ra ni among out of town trip. Gipili ang Cebu kay naglihok man gud ang economy diri (The newly-appointed ambassadors trained in different aspects. The visit to Cebu is our only out-of-town trip. Cebu was chosen because of its vibrant economy),” said Ambassador Victoriano Lecaros, spokesperson of the delegation.

The newly-appointed diplomats include Ambassador to Iraq (Baghdad) Edsel Barba; Ambassador to China (Beijing) Antonio Morales; Ambassador to Bangladesh (Dhaka) Vicente Vivencio Bandillo with concurrent jurisdiction over Sri Lanka and Maldives; Ambassador to the United Mexican States (Mexico) Catalino Dilem Jr. with concurrent jurisdiction over Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Cuba; Ambassador to Oman (Muscat) Narciso Castaneda; Ambassador to the Czech Republic (Prague) Victoriano Lecaros; Ambassador to Iran (Tehran) Eduardo Martin Menez; and Ambassador to the Netherlands (The Hague) Jaime Victor Ledda.

Lecaros said it is a thrust of the new ambassadors to encourage investors to consider establishing businesses here. This way, Filipinos would no longer need to seek employment abroad.

“Aron ang mga trabaho anhi na diri. Di na kinahanglan molangyaw ang mga Pilipino aron mangita og kabuhian (So that there will be jobs here. Filipinos would no longer need to leave the country to seek employment),” he said.

They are also helping in rehabilitation efforts for typhoon-stricken areas in northern Cebu. Assistant Secretary Melita Sta. Maria – Thomeczek has reportedly asked for the status of the province’s rehabilitation efforts.

“We are willing to help,” Lecaros said.

Governor Hilario Davide III, for his part, said at least P10 billion more is needed to rebuild homes. “There are already private organizations helping us. But we still need funds. Homes and buildings were destroyed,” he said.

As part of their visit here, the new ambassadors paid courtesy calls to Davide, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes. They also visited local landmarks.

At the Cebu City Hall, Rama said he asked the ambassadors to help promote the city. He also gave them a piece of advice: “I reminded them the importance of practicing human relations considering that an embassy is an extension of your country. They should always smile,” Rama, known for his charismatic ways, said. —/JMO (FREEMAN)