Delegation Reports
Parliamentary Delegation from The Republic of The Philippines
6 to 10 July 2009
Delegation
The Honourable Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada – Leader
Senate President Pro Tempore
Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
Senate Majority Leader
Senator Gregorio B. Honasan II
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson
Director General Carmen Razon-Arceno
(Office of International Relations & Protocol, Senate)
General Secretary Mr. Cesar de Chavez
The delegation, led by the Honourable Jinggoy Estrada (Senate President Pro Tempore), began their official programme on Monday morning with a meeting at City Hall with the Statutory Deputy Mayor of London, Mr Richard Barnes.
The delegation congratulated Mr Barnes on the UK’s success in winning the bid to stage the Olympics in 2012, and the discussions centred on the progress of building the facilities for the Olympics.
The delegation then travelled to the Palace of Westminster for a meeting with Barry Lowen, UKTI’s Asia Director, and members of the Philippine-British Business Council (PBBC).
Lunch was at Shepherd’s restaurant hosted by Colin Challen MP (Chair of the Climate Change All Party Group) and members from both the Climate Change All Party Group and the British Group IPU.
The discussions focussed on international climate change and the lead up to the United Nations Climate Change conference in Copenhagen 2009.
Following lunch, the delegation met Mark Hutton, Clerk of the Overseas Office, who briefed the delegation on parliamentary practices and procedures in the House of Commons. The final meeting of the day was with Professor Ian Wright, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton University. The discussions with him focused on the United Nations Committee Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Lord Speaker, the Rt Hon Baroness Hayman, and Lord Dubs hosted a reception in the Lord Speaker’s Riverview Room before the delegation attended a welcome dinner hosted by Christine Russell MP, Vice-Chair of the BGIPU, and members of the BGIPU.
Tuesday began with the delegation being formally welcomed by Jill Pay, Serjeant- at-Arms, before taking a tour of the Palace of Westminster, led by Lord McNally, Treasurer of the Philippine All Party Parliamentary Group. The delegation then met Mike Gapes MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, and had a lively conversation with him on the work of the Committee.
The delegation also had a meeting with Alda Barry, Registrar of Members’ Interest, Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. After that, they met the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP. The delegation had the honour of being the first visiting overseas delegation to meet with the new Speaker.
Following lunch, the delegation first met the Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP, Chair of the Defence Select Committee. They discussed peace-keeping issues and pirating off the coast of Somalia.
Later, the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, the Rt Hon John McFall MP met them to discuss the current international financial crisis.
The final meeting of the day was with Phil Woolas MP, the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration. The delegation had an informative and lively discussion with the Minister on a range of issues facing the Filipinos, such as the points-based system for immigration and how this will affect Philippine nurses and fishermen. The Minister undertook to keep the Philippine Embassy informed of any changes of the immigration rules in the next couple of months following the review.
Wednesday morning began with a two-hour round table discussion with members of the BGIPU and the Philippine All Party Parliamentary Group, chaired by John Austin MP.
The delegation then attended Prime Minister’s Questions before moving on to Lancaster House for lunch with Lord Brett, Government Whip and Government Spokesman for International Development.
After lunch, the delegation travelled by train to Cardiff and attended a dinner in the evening hosted by William Graham AM.
The following morning the delegation received a briefing on the Welsh National Assembly by Robert Lloyd-Williams, International Relations Manager. After the briefing, the delegation were given a tour of the Senedd, and were impressed by the modern facilities provided for the Assembly Members and the environmentally-friendly features incorporated into the architecture such as the natural air-cooling system. Lunch was hosted by Jeff Cuthbert AM with other Assembly Members.
After lunch, the delegation had a tour of Cardiff Castle before returning to London by train.
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