Philippine Ambassador and Italian Parliamentarian Hon. Salvatore Deidda of the Information, Technology and Transportation Commission, Discuss Inter-parliamentary Relations

Rome, 23 January 2024-  Philippine Ambassador Neal Imperial was warmly received by Honorable Salvatore Deidda, Member of the Chamber of Deputies, Chair of the Italian Parliament’s Information and Technology and Transportation Commission, and President of the Italy-Philippines Interparliamentary Group of the Italian Parliament at the latter’s office in Palazzo Montecitorio today.

Ambassador Imperial and Honorable Deidda had a lively discussion on various matters of interest to both the Philippines and Italy, such as parliamentary diplomacy, Italy’s growing interest and engagements in the Indo-Pacific, the closer bilateral relations and robust cooperation between the two countries in various fields such as defense, counter-terrorism, and labor. 

The Ambassador thanked the lawmaker for Italy’s hosting of close to 160,000 Filipinos in Italy. Hon Deidda, in turn, praised the Filipinos in Italy for being well-integrated, hardworking, and gentle, and said that they were much appreciated in Italy. 

The two also discussed possible cooperation agreements covering the areas of information and technology (IT), and transportation.

Finally, Ambassador Imperial also shared with Hon. Deidda the progress of the ongoing negotiations between the Philippines and Italy on the updating of the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding on the Automatic Exchange of Drivers’ Licenses. Hon. Deidda expressed his hope that the process will be concluded at the soonest possible time and offered whatever assistance he can to expedite the negotiations. END.

Philippine Ambassador Neal Imperial meets with Italian Parliamentarian, Hon. Salvatore Deidda of the Information, Technology and Transportation Commission, at Palazzo Montecitorio on 23 January 2024 (Photo courtesy of the Italian Parliament - Office of Hon. Deidda)