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PHLIPPINE TRADE & INVESTMENT CENTRE
Embassy of the Philippines
Simpang 336, Diplomatic Enclave Jalan Kebangsaan
Bandar Seri Begawan BA1210 Brunei Darussalam
Tel: +673.2241465, 2241466, 2238845, 2220781
Fax: +673.223.7707
Email: singapore@dti.gov.ph
Website: www.dti.gov.ph
FOR UPDATES ON THE PHILIPPINES, CHECK OUT:
Atty. Carla Regina P. Grepo
Commercial Counsellor
(based in Singapore)
The Philippine Embassy is also at:
PHILIPPINES WINS SEAT IN UNITED NATIONS LAW OF THE SEA BODY
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 21 June 2022 – Philippine candidate to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), Deputy Administrator Efren P. Carandang of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), was elected for the term 2023-2028 at elections held at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York on 15 June 2022.
The CLCS is a body of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) tasked to facilitate the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Under the Convention, the coastal State shall establish the outer limits of its continental shelf on the basis of the recommendation of the Commission. The outer limits become the fixed boundaries between the seabed areas within national jurisdictions and the international seabed areas, which are reserved for common heritage.
The recent CLCS elections were conducted through secret balloting during the 32nd Meeting of the States Parties to UNCLOS scheduled for the period 13-17 June 2022. Two-thirds majority of the votes from a total of 168 States Parties was needed to be elected to the Commission. Among all regional groups, the Asia-Pacific States Group (APG) was the most highly contested, with nine (9) candidates for five (5) vacant seats. The APG candidates were China, India, Japan, Oman, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Viet Nam. The Philippines was elected after four (4) tough rounds, with 113 votes from a total of 164 States Parties present and voting.
Deputy Administrator Carandang is one of the country’s most eminently qualified technical expert, with strong quality management credentials for the CLCS. This is the first time that the Philippines, an archipelagic state, will serve in the Commission. The election of the Philippines promotes the principles of rotation, inclusion and representation among UNCLOS States Parties.
Deputy Administrator Carandang said, “I intend to bring to the CLCS table the common major concern raised by Member States during my meetings with them in New York last month, which is the backlog in the consideration of coastal States’ submissions. I will seek consensus as to how this should be addressed both internally and externally.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. vouched strongly for Deputy Administrator Carandang, saying, “Efren is the Philippines’ foremost authority on the technical intricacies of the law of the sea, which is to say that he is one of the very best in the world.”
Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, stated that “the Philippine candidature to the CLCS is a demonstration of our consistent adherence to international law-based regime in maritime governance and the peaceful use of the world’s seas and oceans.”
Twenty-five (25) candidates across all regions (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Group of Latin and American Countries, Eastern European States and Western European States) vied for twenty-one (21) vacant seats. The following are the successful candidates elected to the Commission: China, India, Japan, Oman, and the Philippines (Asia-Pacific); Morocco, Kenya, Madagascar, Ghana, Angola and Mozambique (African States); Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Chile and Argentina (Latin America); Russia and Poland (Eastern European) and Norway, Portugal and Canada (Western European).
BRUNEI PE HOLDS INDEPENDENCE DAY FLAG RAISING CEREMONY
18 June 2022, Bandar Seri Begawan – The Philippine Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan held a Flag Raising Wreath Laying Ceremony and Reception at embassy grounds of the Diplomatic Enclave in a triple celebration to commemorate the 124th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, National Flag Day and the 161st Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal.
Ambassador Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio led the singing of the Lupang Hinirang and the reciting of the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat by all the Embassy personnel and their families who were all clad in traditional Filipiniana attire and waived Philippine flags. A wreath was also laid by Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio at the bust of National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal located within the embassy grounds.
“Our triple celebration remembers with deep gratitude the first time we declared ourselves a free and sovereign nation, the first time our flag was raised in victory, and the birth of a great man whose life brought forth a nation,” Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio said in her remarks.
All the attendees gathered for a Filipino breakfast where the Philippine Independence Day Message of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was read by Roxanne Eunisse R. Espiritu, a young second-generation Filipino who grew up and is currently studying in Brunei Darussalam.
At the reception, Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio honored twenty (20) local hires and service providers of the Embassy for their years of service. The inaugural awarding ceremony saw the giving of certificates of appreciation and tokens to honor their loyalty and dedication.
Special recognition was given to Mr. Hermosillo T. Inoferio who has been with the Embassy since 1991. Also given special mention were Ms. Maria Venus R. Espiritu and Mr. Hataman N. Paraman who have served the Embassy for twenty three (23) and eight (8) years, respectively.
Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the honorees for “their contribution, without whose vital support it would have been extremely difficult for the Philippine Embassy to achieve its many accomplishments.”
The Flag Raising Wreath Laying Ceremony is one of three commemorations organized by the Philippine Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan in celebration of the 124th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
On 07 June 2022, a successful Diplomatic Reception was held at the Royal Berkshire Hall of the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club and was attended by the diplomatic corps, high-level government officials, and members of the private and business sector of Brunei. On 25 June 2022, a reception will be organized for the Filipino community in Brunei at the Philippine Embassy’s newly constructed Consular Annex Building. END
PHILIPPINES CELEBRATES MILESTONES WITH BRUNEI IN MARITIME-THEMED NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION
Ambassador Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio led the commemoration of the 124th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence with a diplomatic reception held at the Berkshire Hall of the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club on 07 June 2022. The celebration highlighted milestones in Philippine-Brunei relations.
The Guest of Honor was Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohammad Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II.
“Having arrived in Brunei Darussalam and presented my credentials to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah two weeks ago, it is my honor to host my first national day celebration this evening,” said Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio.
She spoke on the successful national election recently held by the Philippines with President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. winning a resounding victory by garnering more than 58% of votes cast. She recalled that “full diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam were established on 01 January 1984 during the term of the President-elect’s father, then President Ferdinand E. Marcos”. She also underlined the strong close, mature and fraternal relationship between the Philippines and Brunei.
She said that in a letter personally presented by Secretary of Finance Carlos G. Dominguez III last week, outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte thanked His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah for the honor of His Majesty’s friendship and warm bilateral relations and in the context of ASEAN.
Milestones in economic relations were highlighted by the Philippine Ambassador’s speech.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Guest of Honor for his invaluable support in moving forward Philippines-Brunei Darussalam economic relations in the area of trade and investments. The agreement on the avoidance of double taxation signed in July 2021 by our Department of Finance and the Ministry of Finance and Economy portends well for our bilateral economic cooperation,” said Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio.
The Philippine Ambassador mentioned that both countries are currently working together on the implementation of a memorandum of understanding on halal industry and halal export development and promotion. In addition, she stated that a private nursing school will soon be established in Bandar Seri Begawan as a joint venture between Far Eastern University in Manila, the Ministry of Health, and Jerudong Park Medical Centre.
Strong bilateral defense relations were also highlighted. Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio thanked Brunei Darussalam for actively participating since 2004 in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) that were founded to promote peace in Mindanao. She noted that Brunei’s significant support paved the way for the signing and successful implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the enactment of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio highlighted the S-70i Black Hawk flight simulator training for pilots of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) that commenced last year with strong support from the Ministry of Defence, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF).
The diplomatic reception celebrated the maritime heritage of the Philippines. Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio stated that, as an archipelagic state, the Philippines is party to most international maritime agreements and strongly adheres to an international law-based regime in maritime governance.
An exhibit entitled “Pearl of the Orient: The Philippines in a Shell” displayed shell-based craft and jewelry, including the highly valued South Sea pearls. A cultural performance showcased a microcosm of Philippine dances inspired by water and sea, and life in the country’s coastal communities. The giveaway bags featured two of the world’s endangered species found in Philippine waters: the sea turtle (pawikan) and the whale shark (butanding).
The theme reflected the Philippines’ commitment to marine conservation with the country recognized to be a global center for marine biodiversity. She said ‘Their beauty is a reminder of what we stand to lose if we do not address climate change, marine plastic pollution, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other environmental threats to our oceans and seas.” END
EMBASSY NEWS
- Tuesday, 19 April 2022 STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, HIS EXCELLENCY JOSE SANTIAGO “CHITO” STA. ROMANA
- Friday, 01 April 2022 PH EMBASSY LAUNCHES “HEALTH CORNER 4 ALL”
- Friday, 18 March 2022 PH EMBASSY IN BRUNEI JOINS THE CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
- Tuesday, 08 March 2022 Webinar: Babae Ako; I am Healthy, Lively and Empowered!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
