AMBASSADOR TANG BECOMES FIRST PH ENVOY ACCREDITED TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC)

PH Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (right) presents her letter of credence to PresidentFelix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the DRC (left) (photo from the Office of the President of the DRC)

KINSHASA, 21 October 2023 -- Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya, became the first Philippine ambassador to be accredited to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following her presentation of credentials to DRC President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo on 19 October 2023 at the Palais de Nation in Kinshasa.

Ambassador Tang conveyed the warm wishes of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to President Tshisekedi and to the Congolese people.

Ambassador Tang expressed that as the first Philippine envoy to be officially accredited to the DRC, she will strive to deepen the relations between the two countries and increase the consciousness of Filipinos and Congolese of each other.

Ambassador Tang cited that a Filipino company, the ICTSI, has invested in one of the DRC's ports and expressed her hope to further promote trade and economic activities. She also conveyed the Philippines' intention to open an honorary consulate in Kinshasa as this would facilitate increased commercial and people-to-people engagements.

President Tshisekedi, meanwhile, welcomed Ambassador Tang to Kinshasa and expressed his optimism about the future direction of DRC-Philippine relations.

The DRC is the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of land area. It is known for its abundant mineral resources, including gold, copper, cobalt, and coltan; while its rainforests, blessed by the mighty Congo River, host tremendous biodiversity. In 2022, the DRC's economy grew by 8.5 percent, making it among the fastest growing in the whole of Africa. END

Ambassador Tang and President Tshisekedi hold a tete-a-tete (photo from the Office of the President of the DRC).

Ambassador Tang and President Tshisekedi (photo from the Office of the President of the DRC)

From left to right: Nairobi PE Third Secretary and Vice Consul Louie Dane C. Merced, Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, and DRC Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Crispin Mbadu Phanzu.

PHILIPPINES SHARES NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS BEST PRACTICES DURING GLOBAL CONSULTATIONS

(DENR-ERDB OIC Conrado Marquez speaks about PH nature-based solution flagship programs during the Second Regional and Global Consultations on Nature-based Solutions on 9-13 October 2023 in Nairobi).

Nairobi, 17 October 2023 – The Philippines participated in the Second Regional and Global Consultations on Nature-based Solutions on 9-13 October 2023 at the UN Office in Nairobi.

As part of the intergovernmental effort, the Philippines shared insights and best practices on how countries can best use nature-based solutions to protect, conserve, restore and sustainably manage natural and modified ecosystems that address challenges such as climate change, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity loss and food security.

OIC Conrado Marquez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB) highlighted two PH projects: the National Greening Program, which aims to plant 1.5 billion trees in the country from 2011 to 2028, to facilitate poverty reduction, food security, environmental stability, biodiversity conservation and  climate change mitigation and adaptation; and the Community-based Forest Management Strategy, which stresses the importance of involving communities in the sustainable management of the country's forest resources through projects such as timber harvesting, agro-forestry and livestock raising.

OIC Marquez also participated as a panelist during the panel discussion titled, “Standards and Criteria” during the second day of the consultations where he acknowledged the importance of adaptability of governments and willingness to consider nature-based solutions to address multifaceted environmental challenges. 

The UN Environment Program was requested to convene these consultations during the resumed Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly through UNEA Resolution 5/5: “Nature based-solutions for supporting sustainable development” in February 2022.  The consultations aim to discuss six issues to better implement nature-based solutions: best practices, standards and criteria, opportunities and obstacles, policies, cost and benefit measurements and financing of nature-based solutions.

(DENR-ERDB OIC Conrado Marquez during the panel discussion on Standards and Criteria during the Second Regional and Global Consultations on Nature-based Solutions on 9-13 October 2023 in Nairobi).

ASEAN CAMARADERIE CELEBRATED THROUGH FRIENDLY BOWLING GAMES IN KENYA

The ASEAN family in Nairobi at the ASEAN Family Day 2023 (Photo credit: Indonesian Embassy)

NAIROBI, 16 October 2023 – ASEAN camaraderie was celebrated in Kenya through a friendly bowling tournament organized by the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN) on 15 October 2023 at the Sarit Centre in Nairobi.

The tournament highlighted this year’s ASEAN Family Day. It was attended by over 70 members of the ASEAN community, including personnel of ASEAN diplomatic missions in Nairobi, their dependents, and members of the ASEAN diaspora in Kenya. Special guests were representatives from the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (MFDA).

In her welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, Chair of the ACN for 2023, described the Family Day as an opportunity to build camaraderie and friendship among ASEAN nationals through fun activities. She added that despite being thousands of miles away from their home countries, ASEAN nationals will find a supportive ASEAN community in Kenya.

There were 10 teams that competed in the bowling games, with members of each team coming from different ASEAN nationalities. Other guests also enjoyed billiards, arcade basketball, air hockey, and other table games. 

The ACN consists of the four ASEAN Member States (out of ten) with resident embassies in Nairobi namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. END

Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN) Chair for 2023, welcomes the bowling participants and guests to the ASEAN Family Day.

From left to right: High Commissioner Ruzaimi bin Mohamad of Malaysia, Ambassador Mohamed Hery Saripudin of Indonesia, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Torsak Janpian of Thailand, Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang of the Philippines officially opened the bowling competition through a ceremonial throw. 

The ACN Heads of Mission with the champion team, composed of Mr. Taufeq Ali (Malaysia) (third from left), Ms Bernadette Umayam (Philippines) (fourth from left), Mr. Lance Lopez (Philippines) (fourth from right), and Ms Yessy Auriyani (Indonesia) (third from right).