Barcelona, 12 February 2013 – Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas met with the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, H.E. Artur Más to officially introduce the new Philippine Honorary Consul General for Catalonia and Aragon, Mr. Jordi Puig Roches.
Also present during the meeting were Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Catalunya Roger Albinyana and Deputy Chief of Mission Catalino R. Dilem, Jr.
During the meeting, President Más noted the big number of the population of Filipinos living and working in Catalonia. The presence of the PHL Honorary Consul General after the closure of the career PHL Consulate General will be of great assistance and service to the Filipinos in Catalonia and Aragon.
In response, Ambassador Salinas happily noted to them the positive feedback both from the Filipino Community in the area, and the PHL authorities on the continuous rendering of consular services through the presence of the Madrid PE Transition Team in Barcelona. Ambassador Salinas also made an emphasis that the new PHL Honorary Consulate General in Barcelona was re-established in no less than six months after the closure of the career PHL Consulate General on 30 July 2012.
The new Philippine Honorary Consulate General office based in Barcelona started its consular operations on 16 January 2013. It will be inaugurated on 27 February 2013. END