Secretary Locsin Graces Groundbreaking Ceremony of PH Embassy’s New Chancery in Singapore
Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Philippine Ambassador Joseph del Mar Yap pose with Embassy officers and personnel during the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Construction of the new Chancery in Singapore. (Singapore PE photo)
SINGAPORE 21 June 2022 — Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. was the Guest of Honor at the Presentation of Dedication Marker and Groundbreaking Ceremony hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Singapore on 17 June 2022.
Joining Secretary Locsin were Mrs. Maria Lourdes B. Locsin and the Philippine Embassy personnel led by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph del Mar Yap.
Officially purchased by the Philippine Government on January 6, 1986, the current Chancery sits on one thousand six hundred fourteen point five square meters of land (1,614.5 sqm) located at what used to be called “the embassy row near Orchard Road”. It has undergone several renovations and expansion in 2010, 2016, 2018 and 2020. It has received the greenlight from Philippine authorities to demolish the existing building and to construct a new Chancery. Singapore authorities, on the other hand, have given their tentative go ahead subject to the final approval of the design and building plans.
Ambassador Yap shared during his welcome remarks that the goal of constructing a new Chancery is the realization of a shared dream with the Ambassadors who came before who had the same vision.
“As I end my tour of duty in a couple of weeks' time, I will no longer be here to witness the actual construction and completion of this new chancery. But it is an honor for me to be here today at the start of this journey with you. I look forward to the day when I will see a new Chancery standing at 20 Nassim Road,” Ambassador Yap continued in his remarks.
The Secretary, for his part, said, “This Post is truly blessed to have, not one, but two properties sitting in prime land, in a country where space is a premium. Owning property in the host government chronicles our bilateral history and speaks volumes of the strong relations between our two countries.” The Secretary congratulated Ambassador Yap for being instrumental in making this dream of a new Chancery come to fruition.
During the ceremony, Secretary Locsin and Ambassador Yap unveiled the dedication marker, and, together with Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General Emmanuel R. Fernandez, also posed with ceremonial shovels to symbolize breaking ground for the start of construction.
Secretary Locsin was in Singapore for an official visit to attend this morning’s ceremony as well as the National Day Reception hosted by the Philippine Embassy on 15 June 2022 to commemorate the 124th Anniversary of Philippine Independence. END
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin graces groundbreaking ceremony of the Philippine Embassy’s New Chancery in Singapore. (Singapore PE photo)
Foreign Affairs Secretary L. Locsin, Jr. and Ambassador Joseph del Mar Yap unveil the dedication marker during the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Construction of the new Chancery of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore. (Singapore PE photo)
Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph del Mar Yap, Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., and Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General Emmanuel R. Fernandez, pose with ceremonial shovels to symbolize breaking ground for the start of construction. (Singapore PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.singaporepe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg, https://www.facebook.com/PHinSingapore or https://www.instagram.com/phinsingapore/.