EU envoys visit Baguio City to boost ties


BAGUIO CITY – Seventeen European Union ambassadors and chargés d’affaires visited this city from Jan. 27 to 29 to boost ties and have a first-hand experience of the Summer Capital’s governance practices and green initiatives.

Delegates met Mayor Benjamin Magalong and other city officials, visited the city's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and toured the Green LGUs project, a key area of focus for this city and the EU.

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SANTORO (JJ Landingin)

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro thanked officials and the people here for the warm welcome.

Santoro said their visit was significant due to Baguio's reputation for good governance, digitalization, environmental sustainability, academic excellence, and vibrant civil society.

He underscored the importance of the P3.6-billion Green LGUs initiative supporting the Philippines' transition towards a greener future during an interview with the media.

Santoro announced plans to earmark an additional P28 billion through the Team Europe approach that aligns with the EU's Global Gateway Strategy.

The delegation from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden also inspected projects aimed at combating child labor, strengthening the justice sector, and promoting literacy among children.

Their visit concluded with a tour of the presidential Mansion House.