Marcos cited by UN for youth, peace, security advocacy —Palace

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was lauded by the United Nations (UN) for his initiatives on youth empowerment, peace-building, and security, Malacañang said Saturday.

In a statement, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said that during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-UN Summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres cited Marcos “for taking the lead in youth involvement for the ASEAN.”

In the summit, the President expressed the Philippines’ commitment to the youth, peace and security agenda with the launch of the Philippines’ National Action Plan (NAP) on youth, peace, and security in August this year, “which is the fourth of its kind in the world,” according to the OPS.

The Palace said that Marcos assured the global body that the Philippines will continue to strengthen its engagement with the UN.

“As I mentioned during our meeting in New York, we intend to enhance our role in peacekeeping operations, especially where there is a huge concentration of overseas Filipinos,” said Marcos.

Recalling his speech at the UN General Assembly two months ago, the President said climate change is the greatest threat affecting nations and the people, adding it is a global problem that needs strong leadership from the UN.

“Let me reassure you, Secretary General, that the Philippines is committed to supporting and collaborating with the UN in the global effort to fight climate change and other environmental issues,” said Marcos.

The Philippines’ commitment to an open, inclusive and rules-based international order is unwavering, said Marcos as he urged all members of the UN to respect the rule of law and international laws, in particular, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The President also announced that the country achieved 120 out of 140 action lines of the 2021-2025 ASEAN-UN Plan of Action, the OPS said.

Marcos also expressed his appreciation for the cooperation and assistance that ASEAN had with the UN through the COVAX facility in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our close cooperation has helped see all of us through the worst of the pandemic. I am looking forward to further cooperation in our pandemic recovery efforts to ‘build back better,” said the President. —KG, GMA Integrated News