/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} 23 January 2014 – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, called on the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ambassador William " Bill " Swing on January 10.
During the meeting, Ambassador Rebong conveyed the strong commitment of the Philippines in building back better communities from the areas hit by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
She also reiterated the Philippine Government’s appreciation for the assistance provided by IOM to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), as well as in the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from conflict-affected areas in Africa and the Middle East.
In response, the IOM Director General Swing lauded the Philippine Government for its quick and comprehensive disaster-management response in the wake of Yolanda. He said that the UN cluster approach to the recent devastation could not have worked better, given the extent of damage to lives and property, without the strongly coordinated action and leadership demonstrated by the Philippine Government.
Director General Swing assured Ambassador Rebong of the continued support of IOM for the Philippine government as it focuses on sustainable rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts and in drawing important lessons on post-disaster response which could be shared with the international community.
Ambassador Rebong was accompanied by Minister Enrico T. Fos and Labour Attaché Ma. Celeste Valderrama from the Philippine Permanent Mission while Director General Swing was accompanied by IOM Deputy Director General Laura Thompson, Chief of Staff Ovias Sarmad, Director for Operations, Mohammed Abdiker, and Senior Regional Adviser for Asia Akio Nakayama. END