31 March 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia called on Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) to personally convey her warm wishes on the latter’s assumption of duty on March 24. Ms. Akhtar also holds the position of Undersecretary General of the United Nations.
During the call, the Ambassador conveyed her appreciation of UNESCAP’s work in various Committees, especially on disaster risk reduction (DRR), and the work of other United Nations organizations in connection with relief efforts for the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Executive Secretary Akhtar noted the Philippines’ active role in ESCAP’s work on statistics and DRR, and the planned Ministerial Meeting on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) to be held in Manila in November 2014.
Following the call on Executive Secretary Akhtar, Ambassador Batoon-Garcia chaired the 353rd Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Permanent Representatives and Other Representatives Designated by Member States of UNESCAP Commission (ACPR). END