Philippines Calls for Reformed United Nations for Global Peace and Development

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo delivers his statement at the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly. (UNIO and New York PM photo)

NEW YORK 29 September 2024 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo stressed that multilateralism must be reformed to address international crises and meet global development goals, in the annual UN high-level assembly this week.

The Secretary echoed the overwhelming calls of Member States to reinvigorate the UN agenda and processes following the adoption of a Pact for the Future, which resets the UN's focus as the international community deals with conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, humanitarian catastrophes, climate change, persistent poverty, inequalities, disruptive technologies, and others.

Secretary Manalo underlined that the Philippines, as a founding member of the UN, is actively engaged in working with other countries on global solutions on many fronts of multilateralism, citing that the UN remains “the only viable platform for collective action,” 79 years after its establishment.

He pledged the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to the international rules-based system, as reaffirmed by no less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. himself. 

Similar to numerous national statements this week, the Philippine statement upheld that the rule of law must prevail for multilateralism to flourish amidst current global challenges. The Secretary also pointed out that adherence to the rule of law is key to keeping the Asia Pacific peaceful, stable, and prosperous. He cited that ASEAN, and its centrality in the regional architecture, “exemplifies the agency of states” to bring forward multilateral solutions and shape the future of the region.

Secretary Manalo underscored that the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea constitute the foundation of the Philippines on the South China Sea. He stated that the Philippines abides by the UN Charter and the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Resolution of Disputes in asserting its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the South China Sea.

Secretary Manalo delivered the Philippine statement on Saturday towards the end of the High-Level Week (HLW), which kicks off the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA79).  At least 195 leaders, heads of state and governments, and foreign ministers spoke during the High-Level Debate.

This major address at the General Assembly capped the Secretary’s weeklong activities that saw him heading the Philippine Delegation to the UNGA79 HLW and other related meetings from 22 to 28 September 2024.

He was joined by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Budget and Management, led by Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Health, the National Economic Development Authority, and the Climate Change Commission.

Prior to the HLW, Secretary Manalo also represented the Philippines in the Summit of the Future, a meeting among member state leaders that adopted a consensus document known as the Pact for the Future.

Referring to this in his UNGA79 speech, Sec. Manalo said “The Pact for the Future is a testament that global problems require global solutions and that a better world is possible when States commit to work together towards a common vision.” The blueprint covers 52 action points to galvanize multilateral action on the most pressing global issues.

The Secretary made clear that the Philippines is actively contributing to global solutions to address the adverse effects of climate change and called upon “developed nations to fulfill their commitments under the [UN Climate Change Convention] and the Paris Agreement,” reminding the international community that “[t]he Philippines’ acute climate vulnerability makes us one of staunchest proponents for strengthening climate and disaster risk resilience.”

During the HLW, the Secretary addressed high-level meetings that included the group of Friends of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate on Leadership for Peace, the 7th ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Ministerial Meeting, a Ministerial Meeting of the Like-Minded Group of Middle-Income Countries and a Ministerial Meeting on Maritime Safety and Security in the Asia-Pacific.”

The Foreign Secretary met bilaterally with the Prime Minister of Bhutan and foreign ministers from 46 countries, including Cape Verde, Antigua and Barbuda, Nepal, Morocco, Guinea, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Gabon, San Marino, Belize, Latvia, Estonia, Madagascar, Niger, Turkmenistan, and Nicaragua, among many others.

Interested viewers may view Secretary Manalo’s Summit of the Future Remarks and the UNGA79 Country Statement through the Department of Foreign Affairs’ official X (formerly Twitter) account. END

Secretary Manalo delivered the Philippine statement on Saturday towards the end of the High-Level Week. (UNIO and New York PM photo)