Study ‘best’ practices of host countries, PH diplomats told
CAMARINES Sur Representative and National Unity Party (NUP) president LRay Villafuerte has suggested that the Philippines’ diplomats work doggedly not only on attending to the concerns of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) but also on checking into the most suitable and effective professional and commercial practices in their host countries that can be adapted to the Philippine setting.
Villafuerte, who is the majority leader of the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA), made this suggestion during the recent hearing by the CA Committee on Foreign Affairs on the posting of Department of Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Kira Christianne Danganan-Azucena as the Ambassador to New Zealand.
Villafuerte noted at the committee hearing that whenever an ambassador is appointed, most of the issues that he or she has to deal with in the host country involve the concerns of OFWs.
“But basically, I would like to suggest and request the ambassador that once you are deployed in New Zealand, always find out the best practices of that country and find out whether these can be adapted or practiced here (Philippines),” he said.
The CA en banc, later on, confirmed Danganan-Azucena’s appointment as ambassador to New Zealand with concurrent jurisdiction over the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.
Villafuerte pointed out at the committee hearing that two of the fields where New Zealand has excelled and whose best practices can possibly be explored and applied in the Philippines are dairy production and adventure tourism.
The former governor said that a top export product of New Zealand, for example, is concentrated cream milk, which the Philippines imports.
“You (Danganan-Azucena) should help the Philippines by finding out (New Zealand’s) best practices on cream milk and see whether their best practices on this sector can be tapped locally to promote our dairy industry,” Villafuerte said.
“So sana Ambassador you can use your position to further promote economic cultural and agricultural ties between New Zealand and the Philippines,” and see which of their best practices can be put to good use or applied in our country,” he said.
