SAN LEANDRO – In his first official visit to this East Bay city, Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer met with San Leandro Mayor Juan González III at the City Hall on February 8, 2024.
During the meeting, both sides took the opportunity to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the City of San Leandro and the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. Mayor González discussed his plans for San Leandro, and ongoing initiatives that highlight the transition of the local economy from basic manufacturing to biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and food innovation.
The two officials also discussed the revitalization of the sister city cooperation between San Leandro and the Philippine city of Naga, Camarines Sur, and the path towards enhanced economic and cultural cooperation between the two cities.
Mayor González noted the significant Filipino American population in San Leandro, and the presence of several Filipino restaurants. He encouraged the consulate’s participation in the annual Cherry Festival, which attracts a big crowd, including the Filipino American community in San Leandro, to promote tourism spots in the Philippines, and the services the consulate offers.
Consul General Ferrer welcomed the mayor’s invitation to the Cherry Festival and to other activities, including meeting San Leandro’s business community and visiting Gate 510, the city’s innovation and biotech hub.
Consul General Ferrer expressed optimism about the future of Philippines-U.S. relations. “The Consulate will continue to engage and partner with forward-looking cities such as San Leandro that will further strengthen the economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties between our two countries,” the Philippine Consul General said.
Close to 11,000 Filipinos and Filipino Americans call San Leandro their home, according to the latest U.S. Census data.
(PCGSF Release)