PH seeks multilateralism for global peace
THE Philippine government pushed for multilateralism in addressing international disputes during the annual United Nations high-level assembly on Saturday. In delivering the country's message at the General Debate of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly early Sunday (Philippine time), Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo echoed the overwhelming calls of member states to reinvigorate the UN agenda and processes following the adoption of a "Pact for the Future," which resets the UN's focus as the international community deals with conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, humanitarian catastrophes, climate change, persistent poverty, inequalities, disruptive technologies, and others. Manalo said that multilateralism must be reformed to address international crises and meet global development goals. The foreign affairs chief underlined that the Philippines, as a founding member of the UN, is actively engaged in working with other countries on global solutions on many fronts of multilateralism. Thus, Manalo emphasized that the narratives projecting the South China Sea (SCS) as a "theater of major power rivalry" must be rejected as countries pursue the path to peace, citing adherence to the rule of law as key to keeping the Asia Pacific peaceful, stable and prosperous. He pledged the Philippines' unwavering commitment to the international rules-based system, as reaffirmed by no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself. Manalo said that the Philippines abides by the UN Charter and the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Resolution of Disputes in asserting its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the South China Sea. The DFA chief headed the Philippine Delegation to the UNGA79 HLW (high-level week) and other related meetings from 22 to 28 September 2024. He was joined by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Budget and Management, led by Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Health, the National Economic Development Authority, and the Climate Change Commission. Before the HLW, Manalo also represented the Philippines in the Summit of the Future, a meeting among member state leaders that adopted a consensus document known as the Pact for the Future. In his UNGA79 speech, Manalo said, "The Pact for the Future is a testament that global problems require global solutions and that a better world is possible when States commit to working together towards a common vision." The blueprint covers 52 action points to galvanize multilateral action on the most pressing global issues. The Secretary made clear that the Philippines was actively contributing to global solutions to address the adverse effects of climate change and called upon "developed nations to fulfill their commitments under the [UN Climate Change Convention] and the Paris Agreement," reminding the international community that "[t]he Philippines' acute climate vulnerability makes us one of staunchest proponents for strengthening climate and disaster risk resilience." During the HLW, the Secretary addressed high-level meetings that included the group of Friends of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate on Leadership for Peace, the 7th ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Ministerial Meeting, a Ministerial Meeting of the Like-Minded Group of Middle-Income Countries and a Ministerial Meeting on Maritime Safety and Security in the Asia-Pacific." The Foreign Secretary met with the Prime Minister of Bhutan and foreign ministers from 46 countries, including Cape Verde, Antigua and Barbuda, Nepal, Morocco, Guinea, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Gabon, San Marino, Belize, Latvia, Estonia, Madagascar, Niger, Turkmenistan, and Nicaragua, among many others.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Philippine government pushed for multilateralism in addressing international disputes during the annual United Nations high-level assembly on Saturday.
In delivering the country's message at the General Debate of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly early Sunday (Philippine time), Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo echoed the overwhelming calls of member states to reinvigorate the UN agenda and processes following the adoption of a "Pact for the Future," which resets the UN's focus as the international community deals with conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, humanitarian catastrophes, climate change, persistent poverty, inequalities, disruptive technologies, and others.
Manalo said that multilateralism must be reformed to address international crises and meet global development goals.
The foreign affairs chief underlined that the Philippines, as a founding member of the UN, is actively engaged in working with other countries on global solutions on many fronts of multilateralism.
Thus, Manalo emphasized that the narratives projecting the South China Sea (SCS) as a "theater of major power rivalry" must be rejected as countries pursue the path to peace, citing adherence to the rule of law as key to keeping the Asia Pacific peaceful, stable and prosperous.
He pledged the Philippines' unwavering commitment to the international rules-based system, as reaffirmed by no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself.
Manalo said that the Philippines abides by the UN Charter and the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Resolution of Disputes in asserting its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the South China Sea.
The DFA chief headed the Philippine Delegation to the UNGA79 HLW (high-level week) and other related meetings from 22 to 28 September 2024.
He was joined by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Budget and Management, led by Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Health, the National Economic Development Authority, and the Climate Change Commission.
Before the HLW, Manalo also represented the Philippines in the Summit of the Future, a meeting among member state leaders that adopted a consensus document known as the Pact for the Future.
In his UNGA79 speech, Manalo said, "The Pact for the Future is a testament that global problems require global solutions and that a better world is possible when States commit to working together towards a common vision." The blueprint covers 52 action points to galvanize multilateral action on the most pressing global issues.
The Secretary made clear that the Philippines was actively contributing to global solutions to address the adverse effects of climate change and called upon "developed nations to fulfill their commitments under the [UN Climate Change Convention] and the Paris Agreement," reminding the international community that "[t]he Philippines' acute climate vulnerability makes us one of staunchest proponents for strengthening climate and disaster risk resilience."
During the HLW, the Secretary addressed high-level meetings that included the group of Friends of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate on Leadership for Peace, the 7th ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Ministerial Meeting, a Ministerial Meeting of the Like-Minded Group of Middle-Income Countries and a Ministerial Meeting on Maritime Safety and Security in the Asia-Pacific."
The Foreign Secretary met with the Prime Minister of Bhutan and foreign ministers from 46 countries, including Cape Verde, Antigua and Barbuda, Nepal, Morocco, Guinea, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Gabon, San Marino, Belize, Latvia, Estonia, Madagascar, Niger, Turkmenistan, and Nicaragua, among many others.
