The United Nations (UN) lauded President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for his commitment to achieve youth empowerment, peace building, and security in the region, Malacañang said on Saturday, Nov. 12.
A statement from the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said the President was cited by UN Secretary-General António Guterres during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-UN Summit for taking the lead in advocating for youth involvement in the ASEAN region.
During the event, Marcos expressed the Philippines’ commitment to the youth, peace, and security agenda with the launch of the Philippines’ National Action Plan (NAP) on youth, peace, and security in August this year.
“As I mentioned during our meeting in New York, we intend to enhance our role in peacekeeping operations, especially where there is a huge concentration of overseas Filipinos,” Marcos said.
Citing his speech at the UN General Assembly in September, the Chief Executive called climate change the “greatest threat” affecting nations and people.
It is now a “global problem” that needs strong leadership from the UN, he added.
The President assured the international body of the country’s commitment to fighting environmental issues.
“Let me reassure you, Secretary General, that the Philippines is committed to supporting and collaborating with the UN in the global effort to fight climate change and other environmental issues,” Marcos stressed.
The Philippines’ commitment to an open, inclusive, and rules-based international order is unwavering, the President also emphasized as he urged all UN members to respect the rule of law and international laws, in particular, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and called for a more binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the region.
The President also announced that the country achieved 120 out of 140 action lines of the 2021-2025 ASEAN-UN Plan of Action.
He likewise expressed his appreciation for the cooperation and assistance that ASEAN had with the UN through the COVAX facility in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic and delivering vaccines to the country.
“Our close cooperation has helped see all of us through the worst of the pandemic. I am looking forward to further cooperation in our pandemic recovery efforts to ‘build back better,’” he said.