Honorary Consul John Rivas of the Philippine Consulate in the Northern Territory of Australia yesterday said the success of their first diplomatic mission in Negros Occidental has put the province in the map for migration to Australia.

Their first diplomatic mission was in March this year that promoted the province as a retirement place for Australian elderly citizens. It cited Negros Occidental as having a friendly atmosphere with a low cost of living, he said.

Rivas said the economic mission disseminates information on how skilled workers from the province can avail of the pathways towards migrating and settling in Northern Territory and get jobs.

He said skilled professionals and vocational graduates will have jobs in the Northern Territory as long as they meet the criteria that will warrant their entry.

Rivas said that 100 or 200 applicants from Negros will be hired for the job openings in NT, it will bring in a lot of income to the province, adding that workers are not only chosen in Bacolod City. It will be a widespread selection and outsourcing of workers from the whole province, he also said.

Professional jobs open in NT include mechanical and civil engineering, nursing for health industry, but they still go through training to acquire the standards of clinical nursing in Australia, while skilled jobs include welders, tillers, and carpenters.

The economic mission is sponsored by the Northern Territory Government of Australia, he added.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. also said the missions of NT are just the start of more studies between the province and Australia that will also bring in more tourists.

“I hope that we can help Consul Rivas improve this relationship and will have more skilled workers to help the industry of Australia because they need people,” Marañon said.

The governor also thanked Rivas for his efforts and assured him that the province will cooperate and provide skilled workers to help the growth of the Australian economy.

Mary Martin, director for Employment of NT Department of Business and Regional Economic Development, and Maysie Procianos, international marketer for Charles Darwin University, also joined the economic mission that started yesterday and ends today. *LTG

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