To strengthen cooperation and build camaraderie among the Philippine Embassy, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, the offices of the Philippine attached agencies in Australia and the Philippine Honorary Consuls and Consuls General in Australia and Vanuatu, Ambassador Belen F. Anota chaired the second annual meeting of Team Philippines Australia on 4 December 2012 at the Philippine Embassy.

During the one-day workshop, Minister Mary Anne Padua, Defense and Armed Forces and Attaché Capt. Ernesto Enriquez updated the honorary consular officials on developments in the politico-security and defense cooperation relations between the Philippines and Australia.

The meeting particularly focused on the promotion of economic diplomacy with First Secretary and Consul Nina Cainglet giving an over-all picture of initiatives undertaken throughout the year and the future direction that Team Philippines Australia should take in 2013. Philippine Trade and Investment Representative Emmanual Ang, Tourism Representative Consuelo Jones, and Labor Attaché Atty. Jalilo Dela Torre further elucidated on the 2013 targets and the assistance that the honorary consular officials can lend to help achieve the set goals.

For trade and investments, the priority areas identified were public-private partnerships, business process outsourcing, ship building and mining.

For tourism, the campaign “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” would be further intensified in 2013, with focus on family tourism. Cruising and film tourism would also be strategies to increase tourist arrivals to the Philippines.

Australia would remain a viable destination for overseas Filipino workers particularly in the fields of health, construction, engineering and information technology.

For consular relations, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Grace Bulos presented a proposal on the conduct of mobile missions in 2013 aimed to deliver more systematic, efficient and faster ePassport services to Filipinos in the various Australian state and territory capitals. She also reminded the officials of the upcoming Senatorial elections on 13 May 2013 and encouraged them to inform their respective constituents to exercise their right to vote and participate in nation building.