GOVERNOR Juan N. Babauta may visit the Philippines in July.
Babauta’s office and the Philippine Consulate General on Saipan have been facilitating the governor’s visit to Manila since he assumed office in January.
During his meeting with Philippine Consul General Julia Heidemann on Jan. 23, Babauta expressed keen interest in visiting the Philippines, and inquired whether he could call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang, the presidential palace. The governor said he has never been to Manila.
“We’re working on the schedule. We’re certainly grateful to host the CNMI governor and his party in Manila. It seems that the governor’s visit may occur in July,” Heidemann said.
Babauta’s visit to Manila aims to foster closer economic and cultural ties between the Philippines and the CNMI.
During his stay in Manila, Babauta also intends to work on medical referral arrangements with Philippine hospitals, joint business ventures between Filipino and CNMI businessmen and labor and human resource development.
There are some 20,000 Filipinos in the CNMI. Most of them are contract workers.
