Posted at 01/25/2011 1:35 PM | Updated as of 01/25/2011 1:35 PM
ROTTERDAM - In order to attract more investments and tourism from Rotterdam and its neighboring cities, the Philippine embassy in the Netherlands opened its consular office in Rotterdam.
Primarily opened to assist Filipino and Dutch nationals, the consular office in Rotterdam will accept visa processing, authentication of documents by the Honorary Consul General and will also serve as an information center for Dutch nationals who want to do business or simply visit the Philippines.
“Having a consular office operational already in Rotterdam, hopefully we will see more Dutch tourists go to the country. And those businessmen in Rotterdam and neighboring cities don’t have to go to Den Hague or Amsterdam in order to get their visa,” said Minister Frank Cimafranca, Charge d' Affaire of the Philippine embassy in Den Hague.
Another main function that the consular in Rotterdam will focus on is assistance to Filipino seafarers who are in transit in Rotterdam. Hundreds of Filipino seafarers dock everyday in Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe.
“If there will be problems encountered by our seafarers while they are here in Rotterdam, then the Philippine consulate here will able to respond to their needs,” added Cimafranca.
The new Philippine consulate is located in the STC-Group building in Lloydstraat in Rotterdam. It started receiving applications since January 14.
New Honorary Consul General
Simultaneous with the opening of the Philippine consulate in Rotterdam is the first day of office of Aart Korteland the new Honorary Consul General to Rotterdam.
Korteland has been an important figure both in the Netherlands’ and the Philippines’ maritime industry. He was the founder and long-time chairman of the Royal Association of Netherlands’s Shipowners (KNVR), a member of the Nationale Havenraad (Advisory Council of the Minister of Transport), and former chairman of the Seafarer’s Pension Fund.
In the Philippines, he started the Palompon project in Leyte or what is better known as the Netherlands Maritime Academy. In this institution, hundreds of young Filipinos are trained to become seafarers with sure jobs awaiting them in Dutch ships. This project made the Philippines the top choice for the Netherlands’ shipping companies when it comes to crewing.
“We choose Mr. Korteland because of his long experience in the maritime industry and it is in our interest to have somebody to promote the interest of the Philippines and its maritime industry. As we know the Philippines supply almost 1/3 of ship's crew all over the world,” said Trade Attaché Alma Argayoso.
Upgrading maritime education
Korteland believes that the Philippines’ booming population is a great source of knowledge workers for different fields in the Netherlands and the whole Europe.
“Filipinos are extremely friendly people and they master English as their second language. Filipinos are very hard-working and their brains are excellent and they are very flexible so they can be part of international operations in any field of business,” said Korteland.
However, he encouraged the government to focus more on educating its people and making sure that the educational system, particularly in the maritime industry, is at par with international standards.
“The Philippines can improve in the total educational system. One of the biggest challenges that the Philippines has to take care of the fact that when international regulations are being changed by IMO and ILO, they have to be implemented as quickly as possible because, as you know, they are the largest crew supplier in the world,” he added.
He also said that the government must do something with the bureaucracy in the Philippines.
“Sometimes the bureaucracy in the Philippines is a bit overwhelming. As a service-minded country, they will have to take any step they can to improve that phase of development and also education.”
Korteland replaces Mr. H. Meijboom who retired in July 2010.
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