Philippines wins seat in UNESCO board

November 9, 2017

The Philippines won its bid for a seat in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Executive Board in elections held in Paris, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Thursday.

In a statement, the DFA said the successful Philippine bid was made possible by the support of 157 member-states who voted during the 39th Session of the General Conference of UNESCO in Paris.

"We would like to express our deep appreciation to our friends in the international community for again electing us to the UNESCO Executive Board after more than a decade," Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement from Vietnam where is attending the 29th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

"Our election is a recognition by member-states of the steady progress we have made in promoting the comprehensive human development of our people in the fields of education, science, culture, communication and information," Cayetano added.

The Philippines will now serve as one of the 58 members of the Executive Board whose main functions are to examine the program of work and budget of UNESCO, and guide the organization’s support to members in the implementation of relevant sustainable development goals in education, culture, communication and information.

Ambassador Ma. Theresa Lazaro, permanent delegate to UNESCO, said the successful election outcome augurs well for the Philippines, as it reflects the support and confidence of the international community, despite certain negative perceptions from some quarters on the situation in the Philippines.”

“We received recognition that we play a constructive role in UNESCO. We warmly thank all Member States that expressed this belief in the Philippines and aim to work closely with them for mutual benefit and the objectives of UNESCO,” Lazaro said.

The Philippines last became a member of the executive board during 2007-2011. DMS