Vice President Sara Duterte underscored the importance of her role in strengthening the country’s diplomatic relationships during her first 100 days in office, noting the several meetings she had with the Philippines’ traditional and modern allies.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) noted the “significant and productive engagements with the diplomatic corps and foreign officials” that Duterte held since assuming office on June 30.
In the past 100 days, Duterte already met with the ambassadors from Australia, Italy, Ireland, Vietnam, Laos, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, the European Union, Qatar, India, and the United States at the OVP’s Central Office and the Department of Education (DepEd).
READ: VP Duterte hosts envoys in courtesy call
The Vice President is concurrently the Education chief.
“The topics discussed during courtesy calls with the different ambassadors to the Philippines included bilateral relations between the Philippines and their countries. These courtesy calls also touched on deepening or exploring possible cooperation in the areas of education, culture, and technology,” the OVP said.
In particular, her office highlighted the courtesy call from the State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Wang Yi on July 6 where both officials discussed education and other priority areas of cooperation between the Philippines and China.
READ: VP Duterte meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
Duterte also marked her first official foreign trip to Tokyo, Japan from Sept. 25 to 28 where she was President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s special envoy to the state funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
She met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who shared his country’s preparation for the President’s undated state visit there.
She was also accompanied there by “Trix,” a Grade 9 student, and her mother “Jen,” from Dinalupihan, Bataan.
Trix is the pioneer recipient of the “You Can Be VP” project of the OVP. She accompanied Duterte in her meeting with Kishida, as well as the visit to the Minato Ward Shibahama Elementary School in Minato City.
READ: VP Duterte meets with PM Kishida, Japanese officials
The lady official also met with officials from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology “to exchange views on blended learning, values and skill formation, STEM education and Covid-response,” as well as with the members of the Filipino community to convey Marcos’ “well-wishes.”
Aside from her role within the diplomatic corps, Duterte hosted the 2022 Flag Raising Ceremony and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Cultural Exhibition in commemoration of the 55th Founding Anniversary of the ASEAN at the DepEd on Aug. 8.
On Oct. 6, she spearheaded the gift-giving to daycare children of Mandaluyong City in partnership with the Embassy of the State of Qatar and the City Government of Mandaluyong.