Despite the continuing onslaught of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, the Philippine government has successfully opened a new chancery building in the historical Roman road of Via Aurelia in the heart of Rome in Italy with no less than the top two officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in attendance.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. inaugurated the new chancery building of the Philippine Embassy in Rome on June 27, 2021 along with his wife, Ma. Lourdes Locsin, and DFA Undersecretary for Special Concerns and Consular Affairs Brigido Dulay Jr.
Former Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle who is now the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples of the Roman Catholic Church blessed the premises of the building.
Based on a sketchy report from the Philippine Embassy in Rome, the property on Via Aurelia 290a/294b where the new chancery is situated was acquired on April 10, 2018 and restored and renovated early this year.
The Embassy report, however, did not mention how much the Philippine government spent to acquire the property as well as in restoring and renovating the building.
The Embassy said the building is equipped with energy-saving solutions and mechanisms, as well as facilities that are responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities (PWD) and a spacious consular service area.
It added that the new edifice will ensure a safe, functional, and efficient office space for the Embassy to conduct diplomacy, cultural promotion, and assistance to nationals and consular services.
Aside from Italy, the Philippine Embassy in Rome also has jurisdiction over the Republic of Malta, Republic of Albania, and the Republic of San Marino.
The Embassy is also the permanent representation of the Philippines to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Food Programme (WFP) and other international organizations based in Rome, such as the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) and International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
The Embassy will have a soft opening on July 7, 2021 at its new chancery.
While in Rome, Locsin and Dulay attended the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/Isis ministerial meeting on June 28 along with a delegation composed of Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo Nolasco, National Security Council Deputy Director-General Damian Carlos and Police Attaché Romeo Macapaz.
This was the first in-person meeting at the ministerial level since February 2019 held in Washington DC.
At the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, Locsin met with Joseph Borell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission to discuss ASEAN and EU matters, including security cooperation between the two sides.
The Philippines will assume as coordinator for the ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations starting in August 2021.