23 April 2014 – Newly-appointed United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative, Ms. Ann-Charlotte Lotta Sylwander made a courtesy call on Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. Del Rosario on April 16.

Secretary Del Rosario thanked Ms. Sylwander for UNICEF’s assistance in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda.

UNICEF put children at the center of its response while working with communities, government counterparts, civil society and a wide range of local and international partners. Its five (5) major areas of concern were: (1) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); (2) Education; (3) Health; (4) Child Protection; and (5) Nutrition.

Ms. Sylwander expressed UNICEF’s commitment to be more prepared to respond better and faster in future similar disasters affecting children and other vulnerable communities in the country.

With the recent signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, Ms. Sylwander also looked forward to continuing its projects in Mindanao, such as the establishment of day care centers in cooperation with the Bangsamoro Development Agency.

Ms. Sylwander’s agrement as UNICEF Country Representative was signed by Secretary Del Rosario on 15 February 2014. END