Chatto leads welcome for visiting Cambodian dignitaries

HOUSE Tourism Committee head Cong. Edgar Chatto recently led this week welcome activities for visiting members of parliament of the kingdom of Cambodia held at the Speaker's Social Hall inside the House of Representatives in Quezon City. The visit, a three-day study tour to both chambers of the Philippine Congress is in partnership with Kinrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF) and the Cambodian government.

Chatto, also a member of the House' Foreign Affairs Committee was joined by Akbayan Rep.Mario Aguha as resource speakers during roundtable discussion on the powers and functions of the country's legislative system. Both youthful legislators were tasked by speaker Jose De Venecia to promote closer diplomatic ties between Mania and Phnom Penh thru the sectors of tourism, trade and agriculture, areas wherein the Philippines and Cambodia can develop mutually. Otherwise discussions were on Philippine political culture, exchange information between the Cambodian and Philippine congress, composition and working procedures of the two chambers of congress, local government associations and the historical, social and economic profiled of the two Asian neighbors.

The visiting delegation was lead by Sen. Chea Cheat of the Cambodian People's Party and chairman of the 2nd Commission of the Senate. Composing the party were Sec. Gen. Oum Sarith, Dir. Som Sayuth, Senators King Kom and Samu Bacha. Also with the group were Klaus Preschle and Wolfang Meyer, KAF country representatives to the Philippines and Cambodia respectively.

The Manila visit was coordinated by the Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Special Affairs Development (IPRSAD) of the House of Representatives. As chair of the committee on tourism. Cong. Chatto lately has been in the forefront of aggressive tourism promotions for the country. Early this month, Chatto also met at his Batasan office Australian dignitaries and Japanese students. Both groups were on different exchange programs with the Philippines before criss-crossing and enjoying the archipelago's scenic countryside.

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