Bacolod City, Philippines — The government of the Northern Territory of Australia has sent a diplomatic mission to Negros Occidental to source out skilled workers and look for investment potentials here, including a retirement haven for its citizens.
Januario John Rivas, honorary consul general of the Philippines to the Northern Territory of Australia, said on Monday that they have went around Negros Occidental since Saturday and will be staying until today to evaluate potentials for investments, retirement haven, and supply of skilled workers.
Rivas, who was born and raised in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental but has lived in Australia for the last 40 years, said he and his party enjoyed the scenery of the province and would encourage Australians to visit.
Rivas said the Northern Territory is outsourcing workers because there is a huge market for skilled migrants in Australia, one of these is a gas refinery that needs at least 2,000 skilled workers.
He said that while the Australian government would also consider hiring workers from other countries, he is confident that Negros Occidental could fill a “large slice of the employment pie.”
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. assured Rivas that Negrenses could fill up the large pie since there are many skilled workers that the province has sent to Japan to work as engineers, plumbers, welders, electricians and carpenters.
Many of these workers sent to Japan are on a three-year contract and will be recommended to work in the Northern Territory in Australia once they return to the Philippines.
Rivas said they are also looking at investing on a Negros Occidental Business Park, just like those in Clark and Subic.
“The labor here is a lot cheaper, and everyone, no matter how hard work is, still wears a smile. You have cheaper materials, and products made in here can be shipped easier. So let’s work together and make this as a place of happenings,” he said.
Rivas, who brought along another Filipina, Maysie Procianos, a marketing officer at the Charles Darwin University, said the Northern Territory is also offering “study-migrate” program for Filipinos.
Rivas said the Northern Territory is familiar to Marañon, as well as the late Gov. Joseph Marañon, because they had visited there many times. - THE FREEMAN