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December 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD www.hello-philippines.com 31

Philippines, Tunisia Hold 1st
Joint Commission Meeting
DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs
(DFA) Undersecretary Jesus I. Yabes Undersecretary Yabes noted the Undersecretary Yabes following the
led the 17-member delegation of deepening Philippines-Tunisia relations JCM, the Undersecretary emphasized
Philippine officials in the inaugural which began on 15 December 1975. that the successful conclusion of the
Philippines-Tunisia Joint Commission This close relations was manifested in first bilateral meeting between the
Meeting (JCM), which he co-chaired the assistance provided by the Tunisian Philippines and Tunisia is a testament
with Secretary of State of the Tunisian government towards the Filipino the strength of the relationship
Foreign Ministry M’hammad Ezzine overseas workers during the height of the two countries as respective
Chelaifa, in Manila on November 23. of the ongoing crisis in Libya and the initiatives, specifically in the fields of
former’s approval on the establishment political cooperation, economic and
The meeting was highlighted by the of the Philippine Temporary Mission in commercial cooperation, people-to-
signing of three bilateral agreements Tunis on 09 September 2014. people exchange, culture and tourism-
namely: (1) the Memorandum of related activities, have been effectively
Agreement on the Establishment of In order to facilitate the growing pushed forth.
a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism trade relations of the Philippines and
between the Department of Foreign Tunisia, a Joint Philippines-Tunisia The Philippines and Tunisia also
Affairs of the Republic of the Business Council was established discussed their shared interest in
Philippines and the Ministry of Foreign following the JCM proper. This event preserving and promoting peace,
Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia; (2) was held at the Philippine Chamber harmony and stability. With their
Agreement on Cultural Cooperation of Commerce and Industry where desire to fulfill their commitment to
between the Philippines and Tunisia, Atty. Edward C. Go, Honorary Consul combat terrorism, the two countries
and (3) the Memorandum of Intent of Tunisia to the Philippines, was agreed on the proposal to cooperate
between the Foreign Service Institute elected President. Tunisia conveyed its in the field of intelligence sharing
(FSI) of the Philippines and the desire to engage the Philippines more and other counter-terrorism related
Diplomatic Institute for Training and especially now that the Philippines is projects that will promote development
Studies (IDFE) of Tunisia. experiencing high economic growth. and prosperity. n Philippine Embassy Philippines

In an official luncheon hosted by / December 3, 2015

Updated Three-Minute National Statement of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III President
of the Philippines for the Leaders Event of the Cop21 in Paris, France November 30, 2015
EXCELLENCIES, last February, our dramatically diminished. I am told that the The primary challenge has been to move top five nations with the greatest annual that will soon grow to represent at least

good friend President Hollande and I economic costs of climate change amount our countrymen to less vulnerable areas, forest area gain. 1 billion people, makes our case. In the

launched the Manila Call to Action on to 44.9 billion dollars annually for the on the assumption that such exist—or We have also intensified our anti-illegal name of all our citizens, we ask you to

Climate Change. At the heart of this call Vulnerable 20 countries. Inaction will cost to make interventions that mitigate the logging campaign, reducing by 88 percent give our proposal for more climate

is the stark reality that countries like us even more, as this number is set to grow impacts of climate change. We are indeed the number of municipalities and cities in financing for developing countries the

the Philippines bear a disproportionate almost 10-fold by 2030, amounting to 400 hard pressed to build back better especially my country considered to be illegal logging consideration it deserves. We likewise

amount of the burden when it comes to billion dollars. in the aftermath of Haiyan, and I must hotspots. We are likewise increasing the seek your support as the CVF finalizes

climate change. The appeal we made in We are also told that, since 2010, on an submit: We cannot do this in isolation. share of renewables in our energy mix, the Manila-Paris Declaration, which

Manila asks all peoples to act and come annual basis, climate injustice has claimed Let me point out, however, that despite which now accounts 33 percent. We have presents our aspirations for a world that

to an agreement that allows all voices to more than 50,000 lives from V20 countries— our fiscal limitations, and despite the fact put in place the policies and legislation, is resilient and just, one where no one is

be heard, and takes into consideration and this number will increase exponentially in that we have one of the smallest carbon and allocated the funds to address left behind.

our particular situations as nations. the near future. Consider further the danger footprints in the world, the Philippines climate change as far as our resources Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

As President of a nation increasingly faced by island-nations such as Kiribati, continues to pursue vital reforms to address will allow. This year alone, about 5% of what our nations failed to do in

affected by the new normal, I believe the Tuvalu, and the Maldives, whose existence climate change; and I say that we are willing our total budget was allocated for climate Copenhagen in 2009, we must achieve

real challenge begins with an accounting is threatened by rising water levels. Their to share our experiences, knowledge, change. Furthermore: Just this October, here in Paris in 2015. It is time for a fair

of capacities: How do we ask everyone extinction will be a certainty, unless we and best practices. We have expanded a the Philippines submitted its Intended consensus to finally be reached. Our

to contribute, and how do we ask those pursue realizable goals that acknowledge massive re-greening program. We started Nationally Determined Contributions or collective security depends on our ability

with more to help out those with less? that, for some nations, the fight against the program in 2011; the goal is to plant 1.5 INDC, committing our country to reducing to act. We must therefore move beyond

Consider the case of the most vulnerable climate change is a matter of survival. billion trees in 1.5 million hectares by 2016. our greenhouse gas emissions conditionally recrimination, learn from the past, and

countries, like the developing island In our own experience in the Philippines, Upon completion, this would translate to by 70% by 2030. We are ready to do work hand in hand to safeguard the

state of Grenada, which sustained we have been working to break the vicious an absorption capacity of 30 million tons our part, if other nations demonstrate welfare of our citizens and of the many

damages that amounted to more than cycle of destruction and reconstruction, of carbon annually. To this end, the Food support in terms of finance, technology generations to come. In this effort, no

200 percent of its GDP in 2004. If where affected locales, especially our and Agriculture Organization of the UN, in development, and capacity building. one is exempt; all must contribute.

they lose so much, then their capacity coastal communities, slide back into an its Global Forest Resources Assessment for Today, the Philippines, with the rest Thank you and good day. n Philippine

to contribute in our efforts is also impoverished state with one calamity. 2015, has named our country as one of the of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a group Embassy Philippines

PHL Embassy in Port Moresby Holds Consular
Outreach Mission to Honiara, Solomon Islands
THE Philippine Embassy in Port one Report of Marriage, and four in July, and in Kimbe, West New

Moresby conducted its last consular applications for reactivation of Britain Province in October. A

outreach mission for this year overseas voters records. The consular total of 127 passport applications

from December 04 to 07 when the team also entertained queries on were processed, five notarials were

Embassy consular team returned consular matters, particularly the accepted, and several consular

to Honiara, Solomon Islands to need to have employment contracts queries were addressed during

service the consular needs of the authenticated by the Embassy. these outreach missions.

Filipino community in the Solomon This is the fifth consular outreach The Embassy thanks the

Islands. The last consular outreach mission undertaken by the Embassy Filipino communities in the cities

mission to Honiara was conducted in 2015. The four previous missions where consular outreach missions

on September 2013. were in Lae, Morobe Province were conducted in 2015 for their

The Embassy’s consular team in May, in Port Moresby in June, cooperation and assistance. n

processed 55 passport applications, Kokopo, East New Britain Province Philippine Embassy Philippines / December 11, 2015