On 19 January 2023, shortly after his arrival in Abu Dhabi, Philippine Ambassador- Designate to the United Arab Emirates Alfonso Ver immediately met with Team Philippines UAE (Embassy, Consulate, PH attached agencies) to chart the way forward as the Philippines continues to cultivate deep and meaningful engagement with the UAE, with a view towards protecting the interests of Filipinos who have made the country their second home.

“Our robust relations with the UAE, evidenced by the recent expansion in the areas of cooperation between our two countries, is hinged on the enormous goodwill generated by the Filipino people in this country. Therefore, our twin priorities of promoting the welfare of Filipinos in this country and further deepening Philippine ties with the UAE, go hand in hand, as one opens the door to the other.”

On his compatriots in the UAE, he said, “The Filipinos in the UAE are significant not only in number, as the country’s third largest expatriate population, but also in terms of impact. They are known for their professionalism, talent and skill, combined with innate friendliness, which is why they are respected and embraced by the UAE. This impact of Filipinos residing in the UAE opened doors and allowed the Embassy to engage meaningfully with the host government. The Philippines engaged UAE in agriculture, space technology, consular cooperation, investment promotion and combating human trafficking, and the Philippines and the UAE will be signing MOUs on culture, defense, advanced technology, and hopefully the CEPA in the next few months. Thus, each Filipino is an integral part of Team Philippines UAE.”

Setting the Embassy’s mandate and directions during his term, Amb. Ver met with his officers at Team Philippines UAE led by Deputy Head of Mission/Minister and Consul General Marford M. Angeles of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Consul General Renato Dueñas of the Philippine Consulate General in Dhabi, MWO Attaché Atty. Manuel Dimaano of the Department of Migrant Workers Office in Abu Dhabi (DMWO- Abu Dhabi), MWO Attaché John Rios of DMWO-Dubai, Defense Attaché Cesar Fernandez of the Philippine Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (OPHILDAFA), Trade Attaché Charmaine Yalong of the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre in Dubai (PTIC-Dubai), and Agriculture Attaché Nolet Fulgencio of the Office of the Agriculture Attaché in Dubai (OAA-Dubai).

Amb. Ver cited the outstanding tour of duty of Amb. Hjayceelyn “Joy” Quintana and expressed his commitment to build on the gains and follow through initiatives made by his predecessor.

The Embassy is making arrangements for the Presentation of Credentials of Amb. Ver which would complete the official and formal requisites for the assumption of his duties as Philippine Ambassador to the UAE. Likewise, he will meet with the Filipino community and media soon

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs