Page 33 - Hello Philippines February 2016 'B' issue

February 2016 / Fortnightly – No. 4 • UK & Europe Edition PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD www.hello-philippines.com 33

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PHILIPPINE Ambassador to National Economic Development improving efficiency in government infrastructure spending. Initiative (GPI) aims to educate public
the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. Authority (NEDA) Deputy Director- procurement during his brief remarks Andrea Lupo, Director for Global procurement officials about the use of
received yesterday at the Philippine General for Investment Programming to the delegation. best value and life-cycle cost analysis
Embassy a high-level delegation Rolando Tungpalan, and other officials Programs at the USTDA, said, “It has in the procurement process. Through
from the Philippine Government from the Department of Budget and “While the Aquino Administration been an honor for USTDA to host the GPI, the USTDA has partnered with
Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), Management (DBM), Department of has implemented a menu of crucial our partners from the Government world-class experts from the George
who are in the United States in Education (DepEd), Department of policy reforms, the inter-agency effort of the Philippines to strengthen Washington University Government
connection with the Philippines Health (DOH), DPWH, Department to reform the public procurement our cooperation under the Global Procurement Law Program to provide
Procurement Assistance Program of Trade and Industry (DTI), as well process may be one of the most critical, Procurement Initiative. Such high- in-country workshops, orientation
under the Global Procurement as the GPPB Technical Support Office. yet relatively underemphasized, level representation on this visit visits/study tours to the United States,
Initiative of the United States Trade The delegation ws in Washington, initiatives in ensuring bureaucratic demonstrates the Government’s and in-house procurement technical
and Development Agency (USTDA). D.C. from February 06 to 10. They efficiency while the Government gears commitment to obtaining the greatest advisors.
will also be in Boston (February 10- public procurement and government value for public funds and the best
The Philippine delegation is 11), New York (February11-14) and spending towards attaining the best development outcomes for the Ambassador Cuisia thanked the
composed of Department of Finance Los Angeles (February 14-17). value for the Filipino people,” the citizens of the Philippines.” USTDA officials who accompanied
(DOF) Undersecretary Carlo Carag, Ambassador remarked. the Philippine delegation for the
Department of Public Works and The study visit is a follow-up to the In Washington, D.C., the delegation Philippines Procurement Assistance
Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary three-day workshop held in September Executive Director Dennis S. is expected to have a briefing on Program. He said that the program
Ardeliza Medenilla, Department of 2015 in Manila that provided Santiago of the GPPB Technical Best Value for Money, Innovations will promote transparency and
Environment and Natural Resources training to 50 public procurement Support Office echoed the message and Best Practices in Government accountability, and contribute to the
(DENR) Undersecretary Analiza officials from various Philippine of the Ambassador, reiterating his Acquisition, as well as an overview sustainability of good governance and
Rebuelta Teh, (Department of government agencies with respect to earlier statement during the Manila of the U.S. Procurement System. In reform in government procurement.
Interior and Local Government incorporating life-cycle cost analysis workshop that, “as the Philippine the other cities, they are expected to
(DILG) Undersecretary Edwin and value for money elements into economy further accelerates, it meet with procurement officials and “This program and visit of the
Enrile. Department of Transportation government procurement practices becomes even more crucial for to view case studies in value-based GPPB delegation early on in the 70th
and Communication (DOTC) in order to obtain the best value government to work efficiently to procurement. year of Philippine-US diplomatic
Undersecretary Catherine Gonzales, for government funds and improve support the country’s growth.” relations is also a clear manifestation
(Department of Energy) DOE overall procurement outcomes. In Boston, the delegation will also of our dynamic bilateral ties, and
Undersecretary Raul Aguilos, According to USTDA, the visit MIT’s Concrete Sustainability a testament to the strength of our
Department of Science and Ambassador Cuisia expressed Procurement Assistance Program Hub to hear about innovative life- partnership for mutual prosperity,”
Technology (DOST) Carol Yorobe, full support for the project and will advance the Philippine cycle cost analysis models for public the Ambassador added. n Philippine
emphasized the importance of Government’s 2016 agenda to reform infrastructure projects.
public procurement and increase Embassy Philippines / February 11, 2016
The USTDA Global Procurement

Philippine Airlines Resumes Flights at King Abdulaziz International Airport
THE Philippine’s official flag carrier, General Sales Agent (GSA) in the Western between the Philippines and Saudi

Philippine Airlines (PAL), resumed its and Eastern regions. Present during the Arabia by facilitating tourism and

services to Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi event were PAL senior executives, officials trade.

Arabia, after an 18-year absence, as part of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Ricky Solomon L. Pacquing, PAL

of its ongoing Middle East expansion. of Saudi Arabia and some invited Filipino country manager for Saudi Arabia,

Flight PR 658, PAL’s new Airbus A330- community leaders in Jeddah. Vice said the reopening of the Manila-

300, departed Manila at 10:30 p.m. on Consul Rodney Jonas L. Sumague, who Jeddah route completes the airline’s

January 19 with its 414 seats filled with represented the Philippine Consulate presence in the Kingdom. Two years

overseas Filipino workers going to Dubai General, cut the ceremonial ribbon and ago, the airline resumed flights to

and the Western region, Saudi Arabia cake together with the VIP guests. Riyadh and Dammam.

and other foreign passengers who went During the formal inaugural The Kuwait and Jeddah routes also

to the Philippines for business and reception held later in the evening at the bring to seven the flag carrier’s total

leisure. Piloted by Captain Rubito J. Raddison Blu Hotel in Jeddah, Vice Consul number of Middle East destinations,

Samedra, along with 13 crew members, Sumague thanked the KAIA management the others being Abu Dhabi, Doha and

the airline landed at King Abdulaziz for the warm welcome accorded to PAL Dubai.

(Top left photo) Vice Consul Rodney Jonas L. Sumague delivers an inspirational message during the inaugural International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah in its return and resumption of flights, PR 658 departs Jeddah at 2:15 p.m.
reception held on January 20 at the Raddison Blu Hotel, Jeddah. (Top right photo) Vice Consul Sumague (1st
from left) with Mr. Ricky Solomon L. Pacquing (2nd from right) PAL country manager for Saudi Arabia, along via Dubai at 8:58 a.m. on January 20. and expressed hope that the airline local time every Wednesday, Friday
with other VIP guests during the inaugural toasts. (Bottom photo) Invited Filipino community leaders in Jeddah
celebrates with Vice Consul Sumague (standing 4th from left) and Mr. Pacquing (standing 6th from left), the A warm reception at the airport to will continue successfully. He noted and Sunday and arrives in Manila the
return of PAL to Jedda, KSA.
welcome the return to Jeddah of the that PAL’s return to Jeddah is expected following day at 8:20 a.m. n Philippine

airline was tendered by Kanoo Travel, its to help strengthen bilateral relations Embassy Philippines / February 12, 2016

Philippine Independent Film on OFWs Shines in 22nd Asian Film Festival in Vesoul, France
THE Vesoul Majestic Theater’s
largest screening room of almost with eight other films, for the 22nd discrimination. The film wants to
400 seats was filled to capacity International Festival of Asian Films
during the first night screening of in Vesoul, France. humanize the migrant workers, to
Lawrence Fajardo’s multi-awarded
independent film, Imbisibol. Co- Director Lawrence Fajardo, along present the personal portraits of the
produced by critically-acclaimed with his wife and producer, Krisma
Philippine director Brillante Maclang Fajardo and screenwriter invisible not as superheroes, but as
Mendoza, Imbisibol narrates the John Bedia, were present during the
lives of Filipino migrant workers screening and answered questions real people with real struggles, with
in Japan in the 1990s. The film from the audience after the film.
invites its viewers to share in the Fajardo explains: “The life of a real personal dilemmas.”
struggles of these workers as they migrant worker is not simply a life
toil in various jobs, most of which full of heroic deeds; it is a battle Imbisibol also won Best Film and
are menial – some even dangerous for survival. It is a battle not for
– as illegal immigrants to provide existence, but for non-existence. The six other awards during the Sinag
for their families and loved ones story aims to present the characters
in the Philippines. The film, in its as normal people – fighting, Maynila Independent Film Awards On behalf of Philippine Ambassador to France Ma.
debut in France, is in competition striving, struggling everyday to Theresa P. Lazaro, Third Secretary and Vice Consul
provide for their families, to survive Ceremony in March 2015 in Manila, Andre Estanislao, receives a commemorative book
deportation, to thrive against on Vesoul from Vesoul Deputy and Mayor Alain Chretien.
the Philippines. The film has also
Estanislao also met with Vesoul’s
been screened in Tokyo, Fukuoka Deputy and Mayor Alain Chretien
to ensure that Philippine national
and Toronto Film Festivals in 2015. interests are promoted in the region
through arts and culture, especially
Representing Philippine through film. n Philippine Embassy

Ambassador to France Ma. Theresa Philippines / February 10, 2016

P. Lazaro during the screening Third Secretary and Vice Consul Andre Estanislao (third
from left) poses with Imbisibol screenwriter John Bedia,
was Third Secretary and Vice director Lawrence Fajardo and co-producer Krisma
Maclang Fajardo in the Majestic Theater in Vesoul.
Consul Andre Estanislao, Cultural

Affairs officer of the Embassy. Mr.