26 March 2014 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario welcomed United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark today at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
 

Ms. Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, is in Manila from March 25 to 27 to strengthen UNDP’s partnership and cooperation with the Philippine government and to witness the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro. She will visit Tacloban today to meet with local officials and get an overview of the recovery efforts post-Yolanda.

Secretary Del Rosario expressed gratitude and appreciation for the continued support of the United Nations, its member-states and the UN Country Team, saying that, “the UNDP’s immediate relief assistance in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda was crucial.” 

“UNDP played a vital role in post-Yolanda recovery and rehabilitation efforts,” the Secretary noted.

Secretary Del Rosario sought the organization’s continued engagement in sourcing additional funding assistance from bilateral and multilateral partners for the typhoon-affected areas.

Ms. Clark commended the Philippines for its resiliency in the face of numerous natural calamities. She said that “the Philippines is able to build back better,” adding that “the country can assume a leadership role in raising awareness for disaster risk reduction, especially in the light of climate change.”

The Secretary also thanked UNDP for its support and assistance in the Bangsamoro peace process.

The Secretary and Ms. Clark likewise discussed the Philippines’ progress in meeting the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). 

The Secretary said that  “The Philippines is confident that it will meet its targets.” 

For her part, Ms. Clark assured Secretary Del Rosario that the UNDP will continue to support the Philippines in order to meet these goals.END