PH Joins Palau’s Independence Day Celebrations
Assistant Secretary Meynardo LB. Montealegre (left) with Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. (right) during the Independence Day State dinner reception. (DFA ASPAC photo)
PALAU 10 October 2018 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed the Philippines’ commitment to develop deeper cooperation on various fronts with Palau during the latter’s 24th Independence Day celebration held at the capital Ngerulmud on 1 October 2018.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Meynardo LB. Montealegre personally conveyed to Palau officials led by its President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. the message of President Rodrigo Duterte congratulating Palau on another milestone in its young history as a nation, and assuring Palau of the Philippines’ commitment in enhancing relations between the two countries.
For his part, President Remengesau expressed his appreciation for the President’s message, and recalled the productive meeting he had with President Duterte on 15 February 2018 during his visit to Davao City.
During Assistant Secretary Montealegre’s meeting with Minister of State Faustina Rehuhrer-Marugg, he conveyed the Philippines’ interest in developing deeper cooperation with Palau in the areas of trade and investment, labor, health and medical cooperation, diplomatic training partnership, air connectivity, anti-drugs cooperation, and people-to-people exchange. He also cited the contributions of more than 3,500 Filipinos working in Palau, and expressed his appreciation for Palau’s kind treatment of the Filipino Community.
The Assistant Secretary also handed over the letter of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano on the occasion.
Citing cultural similarities, cordial relations and the geographical proximity of the two countries, Minister Rehuhrer-Marugg highlighted the broad opportunities present for both countries to enhance their bilateral relations. She praised the positive contributions of Filipinos in Palau’s national development.
Palau is located in the Western Pacific Region with a population of around 21,000. It gained its independence on 01 October 1994, and is in a Compact of Free Association with the United States of America. END
Assistant Secretary Meynardo LB. Montealegre (left) meets with Palau Minister of State Faustina Rehuhrer-Marugg (right). (DFA ASPAC photo)
Assistant Secretary Meynardo LB. Montealegre (rightmost seated) and Director Bryan Jess Baguio (leftmost seated) with Palau’s Minister of Health Dr. Emai Roberts (center seated) and officers of the Minister of Health. (DFA ASPAC photo)
Assistant Secretary Meynardo LB. Montealegre and Director Bryan Jess Baguio with the Filipino Community in Palau. (DFA ASPAC photo)