PH SHARES PROGRESS TOWARDS HOUSING GOALS AT OPEN-ENDED INTERGOVERNMENTAL EXPERT WORKING GROUP ON ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR ALL

Ms. Aretha Janin O. Garcia, Senior Economic Development Specialist from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) during the interactive dialogue, Localizing the Housing Agenda, on 10 December 2024

19 December 2024, Nairobi – The Philippines participated in the inaugural session of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All (OEWG-Housing), held in Nairobi on 9-11 December 2024.  The OEWG, established under UN-Habitat Assembly Resolution 2/7, brought together countries to discuss ways to accelerate progress toward making adequate housing universally available.

One of the side events of the OEWG was an interactive dialogue titled, “Localizing the Housing Agenda,” which aimed to underline the critical role of multilevel participatory governance to advance inclusive and sustainable housing, Ms. Aretha O. Garcia, Senior Economic Development Specialist for the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), shared Philippine Government initiatives such as the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH).  She also stressed the importance of collaboration with the private sector and relevant stakeholders to address the housing backlog in the country.

More than 200 participants took part in the three-day session, including the President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, ministers of housing, Permanent Representatives to UN-Habitat and experts on housing.

The OEWG on Adequate Housing is scheduled to make its recommendations to address the global housing crisis during the Third Session of the UN-Habitat Assembly (UNHA-3) in 2029. 

The UN-Habitat is the United Nations’ program for sustainable urbanization and human settlements.  It plays a key role in supporting the achievement of SDG 11: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.  END

PH EMBASSY CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS AND YEAR-END WITH THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN KENYA

Members of the Filipino Community in Kenya with Ambassador Tang and the Embassy Team.

NAIROBI, 15 December 2024 — The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, in partnership with Filcom-Kenya, an organization of Filipinos in the country, warmly hosted the annual Salu-salo sa Pasuguan on 15 December 2024 at the Embassy grounds.   The event brought together the Filipino community to celebrate Christmas and the end of the year.

Ambassador Tang delivers her remarks to the Filipino community.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Marie Charlotte Tang expressed gratitude for the community's continued support for each other and for the Embassy’s programs and activities.  She noted that the active involvement of the Filipino community significantly contributes to the success of these initiatives. The Ambassador also praised the community’s strong sense of solidarity and acknowledged their efforts in promoting the Philippines in Kenya, strengthening cultural ties between the two nations.

Community Mass and Salu-salo.

The celebration began with a Community Mass celebrated by Filipino priests, led by Fr. Tristan Ferrera, SVD.  This was followed by a salu-salo featuring a spread of delicious Filipino dishes prepared by the Embassy and community members.

Christmas dance and Parol-making competition.

A Christmas dance competition brought energy and joy to the event, while the Parol-making competition showcased participants’ creativity.  Both children and adults crafted versions of the traditional Filipino Christmas lantern, with many incorporating eco-friendly materials to promote sustainability.

Parlor games, raffle draws and musical performances.

The festive spirit continued with parlor games and raffle draws, keeping attendees engaged and energized.  Impromptu musical performances added to the fun, making the celebration lively and memorable for everyone.

To close the program, the Embassy Consul, Maria Rosanna O. Josue, thanked all the participants and expressed hope for more opportunities to celebrate and strengthen community ties in the coming year. END.

PH EMBASSY CELEBRATES MIGRANTS, WALKS FOR SAFE MIGRATION

NAIROBI, 14 December 2024 — In celebration of International Migrants Day, the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, led by Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, participated in the two-kilometer “Step-up 4 Safe Migration #Everystep” walk organized by the International Organization for Migration-Kenya on 13 December 2024 in Nairobi.

The event aimed to raise awareness of the challenges facing migrants and to encourage collaborative efforts in supporting migrant rights, with a particular emphasis on promoting regular migration pathways.