23 December 2013- Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, the new Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office at Geneva, presented her credentials on December 19 to Michael Møller, the Acting Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva.   She conveyed to the Director General the good wishes of President Benigno S. Aquino III and  Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario.

During the call, Ambassador Rebong expressed, on behalf of the Government of the Philippines and the Filipino people, deep appreciation for the assistance that the United Nations system continue to extend to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda),  as well as the commitment of the United Nations to assist in the Philippine Government’s

rehabilitation and reconstruction plan.

She likewise expressed appreciation for the support of the United Nations Staff

Coordinating Council in Geneva, which raised, in coordination with the Filipinos working with the United Nations, over CHF 45, 000 for the people affected by Typhoon Yolanda. The

donation was coursed through the UNICEF, World Food Programme and the Philippine Red Cross.

Ambassador Rebong assured Director General Møller that the Philippine Mission will continue to have meaningful participation in the work of the United Nations Office in Geneva in the field of disarmament, human rights, climate change, disaster risk

reduction and humanitarian assistance, trade policies, and migration and development.

Director General Møller thanked Ambassador Rebong for the excellent cooperation

between the Philippine Government and the United Nations and wished her success during her term as Permanent Representative in Geneva. END