GOVPH

DFA STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, HIS EXCELLENY JOSE SANTIAGO “CHITO” STA. ROMANA

19 April 2022 — It is with the inconsolable grief of the Secretary and the profoundest sadness that the Department of Foreign Affairs announces the demise of Philippine Ambassador to China, His Excellency Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana.

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing is coordinating with the Chinese authorities in effecting the immediate repatriation of Ambassador Chito’s remains.

Ambassador Chito was appointed Philippine Ambassador to China on 07 December 2016 in recognition of his deep knowledge of China’s history and people. Under his distinguished tenure, Philippine-China relations flourished despite differences; indeed they flowered all the more in maturity and were deeply strengthened. We honor his important legacy of selfless service to the Filipino in the most challenging foreign post.

The Department of Foreign Affairs offers its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Ambassador Chito, to our nation for its great loss. We pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

PH CONSULATE GENERAL IN CHONGQING EYES PROMOTION OF PH GOODS IN THE ILSTC CONSUMPTION CENTER

30 March 2022, Chongqing – Philippine Consul General Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo joined local officials and representatives of the Consulates General of Japan, Belarus, and UK in formally opening the International Land Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) Consumption Center today at the 3^rd floor of the World Financial Center, Yuzhong District, Chongqing. The ILSTC Consumption Center houses physical and e-commerce pavilions of private companies selling goods from Germany, UK, Japan, Belarus, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

During the event, Consul General Mayo conveyed the Consulate’s interest in promoting Philippine products in Chongqing, including through the ILSTC Consumption Center platform. END

Women’s Rights under PH Laws Tackled in Chongqing Forum

Chongqing, 27 March 2022 – In observance of the Philippine Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing held today an online forum entitled “#JuanaKnow: Women’s Rights in the Philippines, A Discussion of Philippine Laws Empowering Women” with Atty. Joselle B. Amahit, a Chongqing-based Filipino lawyer, as resource person.

In her welcome remarks, Consul General Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo cited the Philippines’ notable performance in closing gender gaps across key areas, as assessed in the World Economic Forum 2021 Global Gender Gap Report (17^th out of 156 countries). She emphasized that a great deal more needs be done to improve the situation of women and girls all over the world, including through “helping ourselves to a good dose of solid gender information, analysis, and audit.” She expressed the hope that the online forum would “shine a light on the Philippines’ gender gaps and break harmful biases.”

Atty. Amahit gave an overview of Filipino women’s rights situation in the context of the Philippine Constitution and existing laws, including the Labor, Family, and Revised Penal Codes, as well as the country’s international commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  She briefly explained specific Philippine laws that promote and safeguard women’s rights (e.g., The Expanded Maternity Leave Law, Anti-Discrimination Law, Assistance for Small Scale Women Entrepreneurs Law, and Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, among others). She also cited legislation that address violence against women, such as the Anti-Rape Law, the Act Raising the Age of Sexual Consent, the Safe Spaces Act, and the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act.

Participants from Chongqing and Chengdu, including male attendees, raised relevant questions from a legal perspective and actively shared their views on human rights during the open forum.  END