DFA chief to head delegation to UN General Assembly

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario will lead the Philippine delegation to the 70th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Oct. 2, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Del Rosario will address the UNGA High Level General Debate where he will focus on the Philippines’ contributions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Del Rosario will meet with UNGA president Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other UN officials.

He will also hold bilateral meetings and engagements, including hosting the reception of the Philippine Gold Exhibition at the Asia Society headquarters in New York.

Del Rosario will be conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York City on Sept. 24 for his contributions to Philippine foreign policy under the Aquino administration.

In 1984, former President Corazon Aquino was conferred an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters. She received the school’s highest honor – the Elizabeth Seton Medal – as Asia’s icon of democracy in 1986.

Her son, President Aquino, received the Elizabeth Seton Medal in 2010.

Del Rosario will discuss the country’s policies on migration governance, Philippines-US Alliance and the South China Sea issue before the school’s board of trustees, faculty members and students.