RP elected VP of UN social council

The Philippines has been elected as one of the vice presidents of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Lauro Baja Jr. was unanimously elected as vice president of the 54-member Council while Lithuania’s Ambassador Dalius Cekuolis was elected president.

Last October, the Philippines topped the elections for the ECOSOC membership, the first time it achieved such a distinction in an election to a major organ of the UN.

"Our election is a great leap of confidence considering that this is the first year of the Philippines in ECOSOC after a hiatus of more than 10 years," Baja said.

The last time the Philippines sat as a member of the ECOSOC was in 1992-1997.

According to Baja, the Philippines will represent Asia in the Bureau of the Council, which unlike bureaus of other organs, runs the multifaceted, year-long activities of the Council.

The 54-member ECOSOC serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and the United Nations system.