President Marcos is skipping this year's United Nations (UN) General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York, and will, instead, be represented by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
 

In a statement, Manalo said he will articulate the country's statement during the general debate on behalf of the President. It will focus on calls for the rule of law and climate action.
 

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) did not provide the reason behind Marcos' absence in the gathering of world leaders.
 

The country's top diplomat will also highlight the Philippines' "achievements and aspirations as a middle-income economy with an important voice in global affairs."
 

"I will lead the Philippine delegation to the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) High-Level Week (HLW) from 18 to 26 September 2023 at the UN Headquarters in New York City, USA," Manalo said in a statement.
 

In his first term as the President, Marcos attended the assembly, where he called on the 193 UN member states to resolve disputes "through reason and right."
 

Marcos also presented the Philippine vision for the United Nations and the country's role in fostering international cooperation to address pressing global challenges."
 

Manalo will be joined by Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, and other officials from the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic Development Authority.
 

The diplomat said the participation of three Philippine Cabinet members in the UNGA "underlines the high significance that the Philippines attaches to its role as a responsible and engaged global citizen fully supporting the UN Charter and convinced of the enduring power of diplomacy, dialogue and multilateralism to promote the peaceful flourishing of nations."
 

Manalo said the Philippine delegation is looking "forward to a busy and productive week in New York, which will include important and simultaneous meetings such as the SDG Summit, Climate Ambition Summit and the High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development. "
 

"Other major events include the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting of the Summit of the Future, which aims to map the elements of a post-2030 global development and peace and security agenda. There will also be many high-level climate-, health-, finance-, development-related meetings and side-events," he added.
 

Other events the Philippine delegation will organize and attend are as follow:

• Ministerial Roundtable on Migration, Environment and Climate Change in the Asia Pacific Region
• High-Level Event Promoting the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty
• A side event on "Skilling, Upskilling, and Reskilling for a Resilient Workforce"
   

Manalo said he will also sign the new Agreement under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of The Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) or “High Seas Treaty."

"I look forward to bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from a number of countries and with key UN officials. I will sign a number of MoUs establishing political consultation mechanisms with a number of bilateral partners, and discuss a broad range of matters of mutual interest at these meetings," he added.