Philippines to open new embassies, consulates

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will open new embassies in Kazakhstan and Ghana as well as additional consulates in the US as part of the country’s efforts to foster deeper and enduring partnerships with the international community and better serve overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), President Marcos said on Friday.

Speaking during the vin d’honneur at Malacañang in celebration of the 128th Independence Day, the President said the new embassies in Astana, Kazakhstan and in Accra, Ghana will open this year.

“We are also working on establishing our new Consulate General in Miami, Florida, to serve Filipinos in the US, Southeast, and the Caribbean,” the President added.

These new missions will provide vital and accessible consular services to protect Filipinos overseas and will also serve as a gateway to unlock fresh economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and stronger political relations with host countries, he said.

Marcos said his previous meetings with fellow leaders provided an excellent opportunity “to bolster our bilateral ties across many sectors, foster closer people-to-people relations, develop closer cooperation on new and emerging issues of mutual concern, all in pursuit of shared peace, progress and prosperity.”

In his toast remarks, the President noted that ASEAN member-states continue to favor closer integration and cooperation amid profound global uncertainties and shifting geopolitical winds, following the 48th ASEAN Summit hosted by the Philippines in Cebu last month.

“We emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation, particularly in the maritime sphere, with the adoption of the ASEAN Maritime Leaders’ Declaration at the Summit, which reaffirms ASEAN’s collective commitment to advancing maritime cooperation and highlights the multidimensional nature of maritime issues,” he said.

The President underscored that the ASEAN leaders’ discussion focused on ensuring regional energy security and resilience, stabilizing food security and the safety of ASEAN nationals.

“I look forward to welcoming my fellow heads of state and government from our dialogue partners at our summit in November, which serves as another opportunity to build on these discussions, reaffirm ASEAN centrality, deepen our cooperation and chart the way forward,” he said.

The President said the Philippines is also looking forward to its hosting of the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia on July 24 “to reaffirm our collective commitment to the principles of the TAC” – mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes, renunciation of the threat or use of force and effective cooperation.

He also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations Charter, which he said remain “steadfast and unwavering.”

“As we have always done, as a founding member of the United Nations, the Philippines will work with all nations in pursuing peace, stability, sustainable development, and a rules-based international order,” the President said.

Among those present at Friday’s vin d’honneur were Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, Speaker Faustino Dy III, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Apostolic Nuncio Charles Brown, Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan and First Lady Liza Marcos.

Meanwhile, in his remarks during the diplomatic reception, Brown commended the Philippines’ commitment to diplomacy, peaceful settlement of disputes and to the principles of territorial integrity.

Brown also expressed his sympathies for the victims of the recent magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Mindanao that killed at least 55 people.

“I do so very conscious of the devastating earthquake which struck southern Mindanao just four days ago with loss of life and serious injuries for many people,” Brown said.

“In the name of the diplomatic corps, allow me, Mr. President, to express our sincere condolences to you and to all the people of the Philippines on this tragedy,” he said.