IN AUSTRALIA'S NORTHERN TERRITORY – GUV
BY CARLA GOMEZ
Monday, May 15, 2017
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday the opportunities for Negros Occidental in the Northern Territory of Australia are huge.
Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon speaking before officials of Northern Territory Office of Asian Engagement, Trade and Investment.*
“There are a lot of opportunities for us there, it is up to us to take advantage of them,” said the governor, who led a Negros trade mission to the Northern Territory last week.
The Northern Territory that is about four times the size of the Philippines has a population of 250,000 and is in dire need of more workers, the governor said.
Scholarships in various fields such as agriculture, health, tourism, hotel and restaurant management to animal science are open and graduates are enticed to stay and work in the Northern Territory with the opportunity to bring their families over later, the governor said.
Negrensesalso have the opportunity to invest in aquaculture in the Northern Territory, Marañon said, pointing out that 10,000 hectares are being opened up for the breading of tiger prawns, he said.
The Northern Territory, in turn, also aims to bring tourists to Negros Occidental, provide skills training, and boost cultural exchanges and sports activities, he said, specifically citing boxing and football.
A Northern Territory school also has ties with La Consolacion College and another sister school is being eyed in Negros Occidental, he added.
The governor, while in the Northern Territory, met with itsMinister of Education Eva Lawler.
Marañonsaid he led the Negros trade mission to the Northern Territory to further spur business, trade, tourism, education, training and employment for Negrenses.
The mission went to Australia on the invitation of the Northern Territory Office of Asian Engagement, Trade and Investment through Januario Rivas, Philippine Consulate General of the Northern Territory.
Members of the governor's delegation were Frank Carbon, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Western Visayas regional governor and Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive officer, Negros Occidental Board Member Helen Zafra, Provincial Scholarship Division head Karen Dinsay, Ma.CristinaOrbecido – vocational school administrator of the Negros Occidental Language and IT Centre, JaphetMasculino – Economic Enterprise Development Department head, and Provincial Engineer Ernie Mapa.
Also with the governor was his wife, Dr. Marilyn Marañon, and Edgar and Sonia Sarrosa, owners of Nature's Village Resort.*CPG
