House Speaker Martin Romualdez recently invited Bohol First District Rep. Edgar M. Chatto and other House members to a round of bilateral discussions with New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Francis Tavita Kell at the Speaker’s office in the House of Representatives.
The discussions focused on the support of New Zealand to the country for improvements in the agriculture sector, education workforce development and disaster resilience including humanitarian, livelihood and peace building efforts in Lumad and Bangsamoro communities in Mindanao.
Chatto’s presence as climate change chair was noteworthy as the Philippines is looking to New Zealand for cooperation in the development of renewable energy with President Bongbong Marcos Jr. advocating the green transition of the country.
According to recent data, close to 80,000 Filipinos are living in New Zealand, majority of which as permanent residents and working as professionals.
Earlier, the New Zealand Ambassador facilitated a phone call between former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and Cong. Chatto.
Clark remembers Chatto well when she visited Bohol to check on New Zealand-assisted ecotourism project in Pamilacan, Baclayon some years back.
Chatto was joined by Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairperson Cong. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, Committee on Disaster Resilience Chairperson Cong. Alan Ecleo, Committee on Mindanao Affairs Chairperson Cong. Yasser Alonto Balindong, Committee on Muslim Affairs Chairperson Cong. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, and Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Relations Chairperson Cong. Glona Labadlabad during the meeting with the New Zealand Ambassador.
After the courtesy visit on March 15, Ambassador Kell was given recognition during the session at the Plenary Hall where he spoke in conversational Filipino.
The Philippines and New Zealand enjoy 56 years of good relations and friendships and look forward to continuing bilateral cooperation.
Cong. Chatto also joined the Philippine delegation in talks with Canadian Parliament Minister of International Development Harjit S. Sajjan as well as Parliament Member Rechel Valdez—the first Filipina to be elected to sit in the House of Commons and Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines David Hartman.
Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss also recently paid a courtesy visit to Chatto’s office.