The meeting between two highly empowered women at the Cebu Provincial Capitol resulted in an agreement for them to “work together” for the benefit of both Cebu and Australia.
Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia received into her office the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyung Yu, and it did not take long before they started looking for ways to forge collaborations between Cebu and Australia, the Land Down Under.
Gov. Garcia invited Ambassador Yu to check out possible fields where Australian businesses could invest in Cebu, especially that the Capitol has shown its readiness to work with foreign investors, as highlighted by its current partnership with the Spanish company Acciona Energia Global for the soon-to-rise 150-megawatt solar plant in Daanbantayan.
Among other things, the Governor offered to the Australian business community the possibility of partnering with the Capitol for the waste-to-energy project, which is long overdue in Cebu, believing that Australia is also big on sustainable development goals as espoused by the United Nations.
“Let’s work together!” Ambassador Yu told the Governor, even as she praised Gov. Garcia’s trailblazing programs. Among others, the Ambassador expressed admiration for the Sugbusog program which ensures food security and sustainability; Sugbo Negosyo which supports local entrepreneurs; and Sugbo Kahanas, a skills training program empowering Cebuanos for local of international employment.
“Now I know why Cebu is the powerhouse in the country,” the Ambassador said.
The Governor also pushed for direct flights between Cebu and any Australian city, especially that until today, such a direct link has not yet been established. If this materializes, the connection between Cebu and Australia will be made stronger.
Ambassador Yu was accompanied by Second Secretary James Lawler, Political Officer Angela Aquino, and Assistant Defence Attache Maj Lachlan Newham. | MARM
