Bangkok, 17 December 2019 – H.E. Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon, Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), paid a farewell call on Ms. Armida Salsiah Alijahaban, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNESCAP.
(L) Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of UN and Executive Secretary of UNESCAP and Ambassador Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon, Philippine Permanent Representative to UNESCAP (R) ESCAP Executive Secretary Alisjahbana and Ambassador Bernardo-Aragon, with Mr. Hirohito Toda, Principal Officer, Office of the Executive Secretary, and Ms. Mary Anne A. Padua, Deputy Chief of Mission, Philippine Embassy
In bidding farewell, Ambassador Bernado-Aragon reiterated the Philippines’ support to UNESCAP programmes and activities, including the annual UNESCAP Commission Session. Ms. Alisjahbana also expressed appreciation for the strong support of the Philippines to UNESCAP, taking note of the active participation and leadership of the Philippines in tackling issues such as women empowerment and disaster risk reduction.
The Ambassador and the Executive Secretary also briefly exchanged views on climate change issues, which is connected to the theme of the 76th Session of UNESCAP in May 2020: Promoting economic, social and environmental cooperation on oceans for sustainable development.
Ambassador Bernardo-Aragon will end her tour of duty as Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to the UNESCAP on 23 December 2019, which is also the date of her retirement after more than 40 years of service in the Philippine government. END
