Sen. Bongbong Marcos welcomes delegation from the House of Regional Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos,Jr., chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, received the eleven (11) Members of Committee I of the House of Regional Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, who called on him and whose main interest is to discuss the experiences of the Philippines in regulating and developing the whole local government system, including the Barangay as a community and public administrative unit.

The visit also served as a manifestation of potential expansion of diplomatic relations and hopes to further develop common interests between the two countries and their legislative bodies, particularly in the areas of local governance, which could only promise a fruitful future relationship.

Having been Governor of Ilocos Norte for nine (9) years, Sen. Marcos shared his knowledge and experiences on local government which could serve as reference for the drafting of village laws by the Indonesian legislators.

Sen. Marcos highlighted the role of the local government units, the devolution of powers, functions and resources and budget sharings in the internal revenue allotment. He also briefed them on the different territorial and political subdivisions, with an animated discussion on the barangay structure system. Head of the Indonesian Delegation, Mr. H. Dani Anwar, thanked Sen. Marcos and the Philippine Government for the warm accomodations and for the informative briefing that the senator gave.

Anwar said that the Philippine experience will definitely serve as an inspiration in their crafting of village laws. Impressed by the briefing made by Sen. Marcos, he invited him to visit Indonesia to reciprocate the warm accomodations and to further strengthen the ties of our two nations, in addition to further discussing the drafting of village laws.

Sen. Marcos expressed his acceptance at the opportune time of the invitation extended to him by the Indonesian lawmakers to visit their country.

The Indonesian delegation includes Mrs. Hj. Sri Kadarwati Aswin, Mr. H. Said Akhmad Fawzi Bachsin, S. Hi., Mr. Drs. H.A. Hafidh Asrom, MM., Mr. Jacob Jack Ospara, St. Th., M.Th, Mr. Luther Kombong, Mrs. Hj. Aida Z. Nasution Ismeth, Se., MM and Mr. H. Sudarto, SH, Mr. Elnino M. Hussein Mohi, St., M. Si., Ms. Hj. Mulyana Isham, Sh., MM. and Mr. Drs H. Mudaffar Sjah. They were accompanied by Indonesian Committee I Secretariat, Mr. Indra Hardiansyah and Mr. Ketut Puji Rahmanto, and Mr. Andhika Bambang Supeno, Minister Counsellor for Political Affairs of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.

The delegation's visit to the Philippines will be until May 22, Sunday.