Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and new French Ambassador to the Philippines, Marie Fontanel, met in Davao City and discussed development potentials for Davao City as well as its similarity with French capital Paris on Thursday.
Fontanel paid a courtesy call to the mayor at Matina Enclaves. She was joined by her spouse, Alain Fontanel, the Economic Counsellor of the French Embassy in Manila.
The Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) shared that during the courtesy meeting, Duterte and Fontanel and discussed the similarities between Paris and Davao City.
“Such as both cities having an estimated population of 2 million and experiencing the same concerns that accompany city urbanization,” it said.
DCIPC added that when asked by Fontanel about his key priority areas, the mayor said that his prime concern is to improve the basic services, infrastructure, and mass transportation system to benefit Dabawenyos, especially those in rural neighborhoods.
“The mayor also shared Davao City’s symbiotic relationship with nearby provinces with the Ambassador. People from surrounding provinces flock to Davao City for education and job opportunities, while Dabawenyos purchase food items such as vegetables from Bukidnon and tuna from General Santos City,” DCIPC said.
It said that the mayor invited the ambassador and her husband to join the upcoming Kadayawan Festival.
“H.E. Fontanel conveyed that she will seriously consider participating in the Kadayawan Festival next year with her husband, to witness and immerse herself in the people, culture, and festivities,” DCIPC said.
