President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday called on newly appointed Filipino diplomats to promote and protect their country’s interests in the respective foreign assignments.
Marcos made the call in Malacanang during the courtesy call on him by the new ambassadors whose vital roles, he said, include not just forging good relations with their host states, but also attracting foreign investments in the Philippines.
As he acknowledged the vital role of newly-appointed and confirmed ambassadors as the Philippines’ representatives in various countries, the President reminded them to keep good ties with its foreign partners and allies while upholding the country’s independent foreign policy and interests.
“Whether or not they are allies, whether or not they are friendly, it is very important that we continue to communicate, engage and explain what the Philippines is trying to do, and how it sees its role in the community of nations,” the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) quoted the President in its news release.
In its Facebook post, Malacanang said the President urged the envoys to “exhaust all efforts to attain his administration’s goal of bringing progress and development to the country, and help the administration to boost the country’s economic growth so Filipinos would have better lives.”
“The Chief Executive reminds the Philippine Ambassadors to continue the government’s efforts in communicating and promoting the interest of the Philippines, and maximize available resources and opportunities for partnerships with other nations to help the Philippine economy and make life better for Filipinos around the world,” Radio Television Malacanang (RTVM) added.
RTVM also stressed the President “reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the nation’s independent foreign policy and assured the diplomats of his administration’s unwavering support as he sent them off to their respective countries of assignment.”
The newly appointed Philippine envoys who visited the Palace included Ambassadors Grace Tolentino Cruz-Fabella who will be posted in Argentina, Jaime Victor Badillo Leda (Belgium), Joseph Gerard Bacani Angeles (Brazil), Eduardo Martin Ramos Meñez (Czech Republic), Gina Alagon Jamoralin (Indonesia), Pedro Ramirez Laylo Jr. (Israel), Nathaniel Garcia Imperial (Italy), Mylene De Joya Garcia-Albano (Japan) and Wilfredo Cunanan Santos (Jordan), Lilybeth Rodriguez Deapera (United Mexican States), Lilibeth Velasco Pono (Qatar), Medardo Antonio Gonzales Macaraig (Singapore) and Alfonso Ferdinand Agbayani Ver (United Arab Emirates). ####
UNESCO honors Salceda with 2022 UNESCO
Club Outstanding Public Servant Award
THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has chosen Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda as its 2022 UNESCO Club Outstanding Public Servant in Good Governance for his achievements and advocacies aligned with the “ideals and thrusts of the international body.”
Salceda, a veteran public servant is set to receive the award on December 11 at the Bayview Hotel, Manila. He has been a frequent awardee of various national and international organizations.
Now on his third and last term as member-lawmaker of the House of Representatives, Salceda chairs the chamber’s Committee on Ways and Means. He had brilliantly crafted legislations that have revolutionized the country’s educational system and strengthened the economy, among others.
Among the most notable legislations he had crafted were the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10939), and the packages of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Programs — the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (RA 10963); the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises” or CREATE Act (RA 11534), and the pending Real Property Valuation Reform Act and Financial Intermediary Taxation Bill.
The new award he will receive aims to acknowledge the accomplishments and undertakings of UNESCO Club Public Servants who “endeavor to pursue the principles of UNESCO; invigorate other youth organizations, LGU’s, NGO’s and school-based organizations about the attributes of a UNESCO Club Youth Leader that exceptionally exemplify the standards compliant with the values and principles of UNESCO in promoting cultural diversity and contributing to peace and human development;”
“Appreciate the exemplary pioneering initiatives and noble struggles of youth leaders who have contributed to advancing the direction of UNESCO; educate the general public about everyday examples of achieving UNESCO’s objectives which thereby advance community empowerment toward development; and recognize LGUs that have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in governance, administration, social services, economic development, and environmental management.”
Among UNESCO’s 2022 awardees are public servants and local government units, non-government organizations, school-based groups, and youth organizations. The Albay Young Farmers Program (AYFP), a youth group that Salceda organized in his province, is also set to receive the accreditation certificate as a UNESCO Club member during the event.
Albay was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2016, and is now one of only three sites in the country bearing the title, which materialized through Salceda’s efforts when he was its prvincial governor.
In a separate statement, the agency said that as a global grassroots movement, UNESCO Clubs support the organization’s priorities by using their communities’ own experiences, skills, and outlook to foster peace; as well as groups of people of all ages, from all walks of life and background who firmly believe in UNESCO’s ideals.
