(29 May 2023, JAKARTA) – Ambassador-designate Gina A. Jamoralin meets the participants of the Indonesia Study Visit organized by The Asia Foundation, in collaboration with the Galing Pook Foundation, the Australian Government and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The Mayors from Lanao del Sur and Basilan, are in Indonesia from 28 May to 01 June 2023 to participate in The Asia Foundation’s pilot Local Government Unit Fellowship Program which aims to empower Mayors from key areas in Mindanao in building their cities’ capability to achieve social cohesion and resilience through a two-way learning exchange between the Philippine local chief executives and their local counterparts in Indonesia.

Former Secretary of Interior and Local Government and Current Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Galing Pook Foundation, former House of Representative Member Mr. Mel Senen Sarmiento; Assistant Secretary Ms. Lilian M. De Leon; Asia Foundation Country Representatives Mr. Sam Chittick (Philippines); Ms. Hana Satriyo (Indonesia); and Project Officer Erica Sale; and Australian Embassy in Manila Political Officer Emmanuel Joseph Solis, join Mayor Khalida Polao-Sanguila (Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur), Mayor Dimnatang Pansar (Butig, Lanao, del Sur) , Mayor Hanie Bud (Maluso, Basilan) and Mayor Arcam Istarul (Tipo-Tipo, Basilan) in visiting various officials and institutions in Indonesia.

Ambassador-designate Jamoralin commended the organizers for conducting a program that  encourages leaders from key areas of Mindanao region to learn best practices from their Indonesian counterparts on how to achieve sustainable peace and resilience in the cities that they lead. Ambassador-designate Jamoralin assured the organizers and the participants of the Philippine Embassy’s support in promoting the Mindanao region as a potential investment hub for Indonesia.  (END)