The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya

PH HIGHLIGHTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES AT UN-HABITAT ASSEMBLY IN KENYA

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DHSUD Undersecretary Henry L. Yap speaking on Philippine housing priorities on 6 June 2023

NAIROBI, 7 June 2023 – Philippine Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Undersecretary Henry L. Yap shared Philippine government initiatives on providing affordable and adequate housing at the High Level Session on Housing, “Achieving universal access to adequate housing through inclusive and stronger multilateralism” on 6 June 2023 during the Second Session of the UN-Habitat Assembly (UNHA-2) in Nairobi.

In his remarks, Undersecretary Yap highlighted the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program to address the housing deficit and eradicate informal settlements in cities by focusing on housing affordability and access to housing finance.

Undersecretary Yap also announced that the Philippines will be hosting its first national conference on sustainable urbanization, the Philippine Urban Forum (PhUF), in October with the theme “Transforming our Cities & Building Resilient Communities.” The forum seeks to encourage and enhance the participation and support of various urban actors and stakeholders in the Philippine New Urban Agenda to promote sustainable urbanization.

In her remarks, UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif stated that adequate housing is one of the transformative forces that can lead the world to overcome challenges posed by climate change, poverty and inequality. Citing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, ED Sharif reiterated that housing is key to build resilience to economic, social, health and environmental shocks.

Other panelists of the High Level Session on Housing included Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Zacharia Mwangi Njeru, Bahrain Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, Hon. Amna Bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Mayor Berry Vrbanovic of Kitchener, Canada, LSE Cities of the London School of Economics and Political Science Professor Ricky Burdett, French Development Agency (AFD) Deputy Head of Urban Development, Planning and Housing Division, Ms. Audrey Guiral-Naepels, and the Institute of the National Housing Fund for Workers of Mexico (Infonavit) Director General Carlos Martinez Velazquez.

Exchanging views on national and local experiences, the panelists shared observations ranging from the need to place housing at the center of urban planning and design; approaches to reuse and renovate existing housing stock to address the housing deficit; access to finance, and having multilevel governance that values consultations with actors, including the private sector.

Following the High Level Session, Undersecretary Yap delivered the Philippine national statement at the UNHA-2 Plenary Session, underscoring the country’s commitment to the development of affordable and adequate housing within inclusive, resilient and livable cities through policy reforms, institutional capacity-building and community engagement, including with local governments.

The UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. The UN Habitat Assembly, its highest decision-making body composed of the 193 member states of the UN, convenes once every four years.

UNHA-2 is being held from 5 to 9 June 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya under the theme “A sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism: achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in times of global crises”. END

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DHSUD Undersecretary Henry L. Yap (right) and PH Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat Marie Charlotte G. Tang (left) at the Plenary of the UNHA-2. (Photo credit: UN-Habitat photo gallery).

PH AMBASSADOR TANG ASSUMES CHAIRSHIP OF THE ASEAN COMMITTEE IN NAIROBI

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Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang receives from Malaysian High Commissioner Ruzaimi Mohamad the ASEAN flag and turn-over documents of the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN), to symbolize her assumption as the ACN Chair for 2023.

NAIROBI, 19 MAY 2023 – Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte G. Tang assumed the Chairship of the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN) for 2023 following a turnover ceremony held on 19 May 2023 at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi.

The ACN is composed of the heads of diplomatic missions of ASEAN Member States with resident embassies in Nairobi, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.

Through activities such as engagements with government officials and the business community, cultural events, and outreach to universities, the ACN helps promote the visibility and awareness of ASEAN among the Kenyan publics.

As Chair for 2023, Ambassador Tang will convene and preside over ACN meetings, lead the coordination of ACN activities, and serve as the spokesperson for the group.

Ambassador Tang took over the Chairship from High Commissioner Ruzaimi Mohamad of Malaysia. END

From left to right: Chargé d’Affaires Torsak Janpian of the Embassy of Thailand, Ambassador Tang of the Embassy of the Philippines, High Commissioner Mohamad of the High Commission of Malaysia, and Ambassador Dr. Mohamad Hery Saripudin of the Embassy of Indonesia.

PH EMBASSY IN NAIROBI EXTENDS CONSULAR SERVICES, OVERSEAS VOTING REGISTRATION IN UGANDA

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The Embassy team extended consular services and facilitated the overseas voting registration for qualified Filipinos in Uganda.

NAIROBI, 18 May 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi conducted a consular outreach mission in Kampala on 14 May 2023.

The mission was done in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate in Kampala and the Filipino Community in Uganda.

The two-member Embassy team, composed of Attachés Celine D. Bejar and Fervie Jay V. Brubio, extended passport, civil registry, and other consular services, and facilitated the registration of overseas voters for the 2025 Philippine elections.

During the mission, Filipinos who have not yet done so were also encouraged to register in the Embassy’s overseas Filipino mapping project.

Uganda, a landlocked country in East Africa and located along the shore of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake, is host to 250 overseas Filipinos, who are mostly professionals and skilled workers. END

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The Philippine Embassy team with the Filipino community in Uganda.

ASEAN Committee in Nairobi donates books to University of Nairobi

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University of Nairobi (UoN) Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama (third from left) with representatives of the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (Indonesian Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Fauzi Bustami, Malaysian High Commissioner Ruzaimi Mohamad (ACN Chair), Thai Embassy Chargé d’affaires, a.i. Torsak Janpian, Philippine Embassy Second Secretary Maria Rosanna O. Josue) and UoN Deputy Vice Chair for Academic Affairs Prof. Julius Ogeng’o

15 May 2023, Nairobi – The Philippine Embassy joined the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN) in donating books to the University of Nairobi, the largest university in Kenya.

In his remarks, ACN Chair and Malaysian High Commissioner Ruzaimi Mohamad said the ACN looks forward to increasing engagements between ASEAN and Kenya, particularly through their young people.

University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama welcomed the book donation and expressed hope for more cultural exchanges between Kenya and ASEAN, including on student exchanges and information sharing between libraries.

As timely celebration of National Heritage Month, the Embassy of the Philippines donated some 30 books on Philippine cuisine, arts and heritage as well as on ASEAN. The Embassy also previously donated books to the Kenya National Library Service.

The ASEAN Committee in Nairobi is composed of the Heads of the Kenya-based missions of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.