Manalo to lead Philippines delegation in UNGA

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and two Cabinet officials will lead the Philippine delegation to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York City.

There is no update yet if Manalo will heed the strongly worded Senate resolution urging the UNGA to condemn China’s intrusions in the West Philippine Sea.

“The participation of three Cabinet members in the national delegation underlines the high significance that the Philippines attaches to its role as a responsible and engaged global citizen fully supporting the UN Charter,” Manalo said yesterday, referring to Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.

“On behalf of President Marcos, I will deliver the Philippine National Statement during the UNGA General Debate... I will articulate the Philippines’ advocacies for respect for the rule of law and ambitious climate action, as well as our achievements and aspirations as a middle-income economy with an important voice in global affairs,” he added.

The UNGA high-level week is scheduled from Sept. 18-26.

Manalo noted that the country will organize side events during the high-level week, which includes the Skilling, Upskilling and Reskilling for a Resilient Workforce, co-hosted with Indonesia and Laos, on Sept. 17; the High-Level Event Promoting the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty, co-hosted with Japan and Australia, on Sept. 19 and the Ministerial Roundtable on Migration, Environment and Climate Change in the Asia Pacific Region on Sept. 21.

Manalo will also sign on Sept. 20 the “High Seas Treaty,” a new agreement under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, related to conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Also in the delegation are National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon, Special Envoy of the President to the UNICEF Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro, an unnamed Department of Finance official and local executives from the League of Cities of the Philippines. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab