RP labor delegation holds successful talks in Australia
Ambassador De Leon (left) calls on South Australian Governor Scarce
The Philippine Embassy in Canberra reported recently that a labor delegation had successful exploratory talks with Australian officials from November 23 to 28.
The group talked with the Australian officials in Canberra regarding the training and deployment of Philippine nurses to Australia, and putting the finishing touches to a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Labor Cooperation between the Philippines and South Australia (SA).
The meetings were held as a follow-up to the agreement between the Governments of Australia and the Philippines during the Second Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting (PAMM2) held in Manila in October 2008.
Comprising the delegation were Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Deputy Administrator Viveca Catalig, and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Commissioner Ruth Padilla.
They were accompanied for the duration of their visit by Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ernesto H. De Leon and Vice Consul Alexander N. Go.
Hitting the ground running, the Philippine labor delegation met with officials of the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the Australian Nurses and Midwifery Council which are all based in Canberra.
(L-R) PRC Commissioner Ruth Padilla, POEA Deputy Administrator Viveca Catalig, DOLE Undersecretary Rosalinda Baldoz, DTED Executive Director David Litchfield, Ambassador De Leon, DTED Chief Executive Brian Cunningham, and Vice Consul Go
From Canberra, the delegation flew to Adelaide, South Australia for the second leg of the visit from November 25 to 28.
Several meetings were held with the Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED), the South Australian Department of Health (DoH), Nursing and Midwifery Board of South Australia, and with the Deputy Premier of South Australia Kevin Foley.
The talks proved fruitful, resulting in the finalization of the draft RP-SA MOU on Labor Cooperation.
Meanwhile, Ambassador De Leon also paid a courtesy visit to Governor of South Australia Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce last November 27.
From the Government House, he then made a surprise visit to the Filipino Ethnic School of South Australia (FESSA) where he was able to interact with the students, parents and teachers.
Vice Consul Go conducted an oath-taking ceremony for dual citizens on November 28. The event was coordinated with Dr. Dante Reynaldo Juanta in Adelaide, South Australia.
Undersecretary Baldoz also used the occasion to inform the Filipino community of the progress of the MOU.
The Philippine labor delegation departed for Manila last November 29.
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
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