PH AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS AS THE FIRST PH ENVOY ACCREDITED TO SOMALIA

PH Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (right) presents her letter of credence to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Republic of Somalia (Villa Somalia photo)

NAIROBI, 22 March 2024 – Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya, presented her credentials to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on 21 March 2024 at the Villa Somalia in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, making her the first Philippine Ambassador to be accredited to the country. 

During the ceremony, Ambassador Tang conveyed the warm greetings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to President Mohamud and to the Somali people.

Ambassador Tang commended the security and socio-economic gains in Somalia under the leadership of President Mohamud and reaffirmed the Philippines' full support for the country’s continued progress. She expressed her desire to work with the Somali government in exploring areas of cooperation to further enhance bilateral relations.

President Mohamud conveyed his appreciation to President Marcos for appointing an ambassador to Somalia. He voiced his hope for Philippine companies to consider the investment opportunities in Somalia, highlighting the country’s rich maritime resources and ongoing infrastructure improvements.

While in the country, Ambassador Tang also met with members of the Filipino community in Somalia, many of whom are professionals and skilled workers working with UN agencies and contractors servicing the UN. The Filipino community expressed appreciation for having a Philippine ambassador visit them in Mogadishu for the first time.

Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, boasts the longest coastline on mainland Africa, stretching over 3,000 kilometers along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. While the country was battered by decades of political and economic upheavals, it has recently made advances in promoting security, development, and resilience. In 2023, Somalia was officially admitted as the newest member of the East African Community (EAC). 

The Philippines and Somalia formally established relations on 20 April 1976, with Somalia being one of the 12 African countries under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Kenya. END

Ambassador Tang and President Mohamud (Villa Somalia photo)

Ambassador Tang and President Mohamud hold a tête-à-tête (Villa Somalia photo)

From right: President Mohamud, Ambassador Tang, and Nairobi PE Attaché Sherlyn M. Roxas (Villa Somalia photo)

Prior to the credentials ceremony, Ambassador Tang presented an open copy of her Letter of Credence to Somali Acting Foreign Minister and State Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ali Mohamed Omar. The two officials discussed possible areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Somalia.

Ambassador Tang (third from left) and Attaché Roxas (second from left) with members of the Filipino community in Mogadishu.

NAIROBI, 08 March 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi joins the world in celebrating International Women's Day (IWD 2024).

For this year, the UN has adopted the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," emphasizing the vital significance of investing in women's education, health, and economic opportunities as key drivers for sustainable development.

In the Philippines, the IWD is observed as part of the National Women's Month Celebration (NWMC) under the sub-theme “Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, Patutunayan!”, which calls for a Bagong Pilipinas where women are given equitable opportunities and not hindered by gender biases and discriminatory stereotypes.

PH joins call for inclusive multilateralism to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution at UNEA-6

 Philippine Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP Marie Charlotte G. Tang delivers the Philippine national statement during the UNEA-6 high-level segment

3 March 2024, Nairobi – The Philippines joined other countries in calling for more urgent, synergistic and equitable multilateralism in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution at the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, held in Nairobi on 26 February – 1 March 2024.

Speaking at the high-level segment of UNEA-6, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNEP Marie Charlotte G. Tang highlighted that as a megabiodiverse and environmentally vulnerable country, the Philippines understands the nexus of the three environmental crises, the necessity for balance and synergies in managing them, and the need for the world to work together for more inclusive and effective solutions. 

She highlighted some of PH’s actions on both the domestic and international fronts including scaling up ecosystem-based adaptation efforts and nature-based solutions, updating the country’s national biodiversity strategy and action plan to contribute to the 30x30 goals under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, implementing an Extended Producers Responsibility Act to tackle plastic waste, as well as engaging constructively in crafting an ambitious treaty to end plastic pollution.

On climate action, Ambassador Tang underscored that the Philippines will host the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in October this year and the Philippine offer to host the Board of the recently operationalized Loss and Damage Fund. 

Ambassador Tang also joined the call for nations to sign and ratify the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) for its early entry into force.

The Philippines recognized the UNEP Regional Seas Programme, in particular the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), and the Philippine-hosted ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, for their work in Southeast Asia.

The Philippine delegation to UNEA-6 was led by Ambassador Tang and was joined by representatives from the DENR and the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi. 

The Session adopted 15 resolutions related to abating pollution and promoting sound management of chemicals and waste; halting and reversing the loss of nature while restoring ecosystems; international environmental governance; addressing the root causes of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution.

UNEA is the world’s highest decision-making body on the environment with universal membership of all 193 UN Member States.

The next UNEA will be held in December 2025 in Nairobi.  END.

The Philippine delegation to UNEA-6 composed of representatives from DENR and Nairobi PE and headed by Ambassador Tang (fourth from left).

Ambassador Tang and ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB) Executive Director Theresa Mundita Lim