14 March 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz, paid a courtesy call on Tammam Salam, new Prime Minister of Lebanon, on March 5 at the Grand Serail. 

Ambassador Ruiz conveyed the warm felicitations and best wishes of President Benigno S. Aquino III to Prime Minister Salam on his appointment and the formation of his Government and then proceeded to brief him on the status of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Lebanon.

She highlighted the signing of the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding on Labor Cooperation and the accompanying Protocol on the Deployment of Household Service Workers (HSW), which paves the way for the negotiation of a Standard Employment Contract for HSWs to Lebanon.

The Prime Minister warmly welcomed the briefing and the opportunity for his government to actively work with the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon towards strengthening and expanding the ties between the two countries. END