PH Gears Up for the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Colombia, Brazil; pushes cooperation in security, environment and social development 

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.  with Colombian Ambassador Marcela Ordoñez Fernandez (left photo) and Brazilian Ambassador Jose Maria De Souza e Silva (right photo) during the back-to-back courtesy calls on 16 February 2021. (Photo by DFA-OPCD Vanessa Ubac)

PASAY CITY 22 February 2021 - Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. received Colombian Ambassador Marcela Ordoñez Fernandez and Brazilian Ambassador Antonio Jose Maria De Souza e Silva in a back-to-back courtesy call on 16 February 2021 at the Department of Foreign Affairs, in line with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations of both countries with the Philippines this year.

Secretary Locsin and Ambassador Ordoñez committed to further advance bilateral cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism, transnational crime, disaster risk reduction and management, climate change, gender and development, early childhood care, technical assistance, South-South cooperation in areas of former combatants, reintegration and youth empowerment. Ambassador Ordoñez shared plans of introducing to the Philippine market Colombian meat products and coffee; increasing the number of Filipino tourists to Colombia, especially after travel restrictions are eventually eased; and with Colombia as President pro tempore of the Pacific Alliance, bringing the trade bloc closer to the Philippines and the ASEAN, in cooperation with her Chilean and Mexican counterparts.  

Meanwhile, Secretary Locsin thanked Brazil for facilitating the delivery of six (6) A-29B Super Tuscano aircraft manufactured by EMBRAER company of Brazil last October 2020, which will contribute to the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; and noted the strong presence of the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. in Brazil, which will hopefully usher in more large-scale investments between the two countries.

Ambassador Souza informed the Secretary that all members of the Filipino community in Brazil will be inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine as part of the universal coverage of its healthcare system. The schedule of the inoculations will be determined by age. END