Ottawa, November 2, 2016 – Today, the Honourable George Furey, Speaker of the Senate of Canada, recognized the Honourable Peter Angelo Tiu Laviña, Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Office of the President of the Philippines, in the Senate Chamber during the Senate sitting. He was present in the Senate gallery, accompanied by Her Excellency Petronila P. Garcia, Ambassador of the Philippines to Canada, as a guest of Senator Tobias C. Enverga Jr.

Deputy Cabinet Secretary Laviña visited Parliament and met with the Senator to discuss matters of shared interest between the two countries as well as Canada’s approach to certain issues that are on the agenda of the new administration in the Philippines after the election of His Excellency Rodrigo Duterte as the Republic’s President.

“I am delighted to receive Her Excellency and the Deputy Cabinet Secretary to the Senate of Canada. It is wonderful to have exchanges between individuals who serve their countries at different levels in order to expand and deepen the relationship between our countries,” said Senator Enverga in a statement. “It is unclear at this time where we stand with the negotiations of a free trade agreement that was announced during the previous president’s visit to Canada, and it is therefore important to keep working towards a mutually beneficial agreement that will be in the best interest of both countries,” the Senator continued.

Deputy Cabinet Secretary Laviña proceeded to meet with other parliamentarians from both houses, and will participate in a town hall meeting with kababayans at the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa later in the evening.

–30–