GOVPH

PH Renews Commitment for Asian Community Vision 2030

DOHA, 15 May 2019 — The Philippines called on fellow Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) members to uphold the spirit of multilateralism, collaboration, and partnership to ensure that the bonds of friendship and cooperation continue to remain strong as it joined 33 other member countries of the ACD in Doha, Qatar for the 16th Meeting of ACD Foreign Ministers and Meeting of Senior Officials from 30 April to 01 May 2019 and the ACD Business Forum on 02 May 2019.

Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations (DFA-OUIER) officer in charge Ambassador Lourdes O. Yparraguirre represented Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and led the Philippine delegation co-headed by Ambassador to Qatar Allan Timbayan, DFA-OUIER Senior Special Assistant Eric Gerardo Tamayo, Consul General Roussel Reyes, Ms. Christine Capistrano, Mr. Archie Baquilod, and Dr. Isagani Cordova of Our Lady of Fatima University. Mr. Robert Amores of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry participated in the ACD Business Forum.

Under the theme “Partners in Progress” the ACD members renewed its commitment to furthering the ACD Vision of an Asian Community 2030 and took note of the progress under 20 cooperation areas under the six pillars of the ACD, namely: (1) Connectivity, (2) Science, Technology and Innovation, (3) Education and Human Resource Development, (4) Interrelation of Food, Energy and Water Security, (5) Culture and Tourism, and (6) Promoting Approaches to Inclusive and Sustainable Development. The Philippines is a co-prime mover of Pillars 2, 3 and 4.

Citing the theme and the call for partnership for progress, the Philippines urged the facilitation of swift and proficient movement of people, goods, and services that will not only improve the living standards of our people but also secure a progressive and prosperous future for them.

The country also called for more investments into human capital development through the enhancement of basic education systems, the offer of more scholarships and trainings, and the conduct of skills-matching to seamlessly converge with the requirements of businesses and the demands of our labor markets. This shall be complemented with the promotion of science, technology, and research to encourage innovation.

The Build Build Build Program was introduced as the flagship initiative aimed at interconnecting the islands across the archipelago through the construction of airports, ports, and inter-island bridges to provide Filipinos with an efficient and first-rate mass transport network, as the Philippines also look to expand energy generation options and sustainable sources of water.

Adopting the Doha Declaration, the Ministers noted that Asia is a major driving force for global economic growth and a key partner in achieving global partnership in development and that small and medium enterprises are the engines for generating growth and prosperity throughout Asia.

The ACD endorsed a plan to reach out to other regional and other sub-regional organizations affirming its support to the rules and regulations of the World Trade Organization. END

PH Embassy in Qatar Brings Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group for a Night of Cultural Performance

DOHA, 30 April 2019 — The Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group (ROFG) left foreign and local audience mesmerized during a performance dubbed as “Indayog ng Pilipinas: A showcase of Philippine Folkloric Dances” held at the Drama Theatre of the Katara Cultural Village Foundation in Doha, Qatar on 14 April 2019.

The 15-member dance troupe, which is one of the leading resident dance companies of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, regaled the audience with a repertoire of 13 Philippine ethnic dances performed to the tune of ethnic and tribal music, which was played live using Philippine traditional instruments like agong, bandorya, dabakan, gabang, gandingan, gitara, kulintang, octavina, sarunay, and singkil.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassdor to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan shared with the audience how the Philippine geographic make-up as an archipelago of 7,107 islands has strongly contributed to the evolution of diverse Philippine ethnic dances that are unique to each region and province in the country.

On the sidelines, the ROFG also conducted dance workshops at the Katara and performed a mini-cultural show at the Philippine International School Qatar (PISQ) on 15 and 16 April, respectively.

The visit of the ROFG in Doha was made possible through the collaboration between the Philippine Embassy in Doha, as part of its cultural diplomacy program, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), as part of its Sentro Rizal program, and the Katara. END

Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group conducts a dance workshop at the Katara. (Doha PE photo)

For more information, visit www.dohape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinQatar/.

2019 Overseas Voting Opens in Doha

PHOTO: The month-long overseas voting for the 2019 Senatorial and Party List Elections started in Doha with Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan casting the ceremonial ballot together with the first registered overseas voters who eagerly exercised their right to vote on 13 April 2019.

The local electoral board composed of Embassy personnel and representatives, duly deputized and trained by the Commission on Elections to conduct personal voting using the automated election system, facilitated the successful voter turnout during the commencement of overseas voting and are working to ensure that all registered voters get to vote, protect the sanctity of their ballots and that their votes get counted.

The Embassy continues to strongly encourage all registered voters in Qatar to exercise their right to vote during the overseas voting period from 13 April 2019 to 13 May 2019. (Doha PE photo)

Consul General Roussel R. Reyes briefs voters on the procedures, steps and the proper way to cast their votes. (Doha PE Photo)

The first five voters together with local poll watchers witness the start of the overseas voting process. (Doha PE Photo)

For more information, visit www.dohape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinQatar/.