L-R Amb. Dizon-De Vega with Minister President Stephan Weil; The Philippine flag is displayed at the entrance of the State Chancellery Building (photos by Berlin PE)
L-R Mrs. Nasreen Garbin, Amb. Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Mr. Alexander Kulitz, MdB, Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr. (photos by Berlin PE)
Congressman Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr. of the AKO BICOL PARTYLIST met with Member of the German Bundestag Alexander Kulitz, Mdb of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) today at the historic Reichstag, home to the German Parliament.
Rep. Garbin, who is on his 2nd consecutive term in the Philippine Congress met with Mr. Kulitz as part of efforts to promote greater inter-parliamentary engagement between the Philippines and Germany. Mr. Kulitz and Mr. Garbin found many common points of interest, having been elected as Party List representatives in their respective parliaments and similar backgrounds as active members of the Junior Chamber International better known as the JCI or Jaycees. Both have also had legal studies training.
The two legislators discussed their respective parliamentary processes and systems as well as ways to enhance the law-making process in their respective countries. Both agreed that further interaction among Philippine and German parliamentarians would contribute to the overall strengthening of Philippine-German ties.
Rep. Garbin extended an invitation for Mr. Kulitz and his fellow German legislators to visit the Philippines. Mr. Kulitz is currently the Deputy Chair of the ASEAN Parliamentary Friendship Group of the German Bundestag.
Rep. Garbin was joined at the Bundestag by his spouse Mrs. Nasreen Garbin and Philippine Ambassador to Germany Theresa Dizon-De Vega. END
Alexander Kulitz, MdB and Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr., exchange views on their legislative experiences
The Philippine Embassy in Berlin, led by Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega, pushed for closer cooperation with Hamburg during her visit to the northern German city-state last February 17.
The Ambassador met with the Hamburg Government’s external relations chief, State Secretary Almut Möller and Director General for International Affairs Corinna Nienstedt at Hamburg City Hall.
Ambassador Dizon-de Vega conveyed the Embassy’s appreciation for the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere provided by the people and government of Hamburg to over a thousand Filipinos living in the city-state, as well as to the thousands of Filipino seafarers working on international vessels calling at its port, the second busiest after Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
State Secretary Möller welcomed the Philippine Embassy’s initiative of meeting with city-state officials and assured the Ambassador of the Hamburg Government’s support for efforts to broaden cooperation. She said that as a trading city, Hamburg has always actively sought and will continue to seek external partnerships.
The State Secretary expressed particular interest in the fields of innovation and new technology in the Philippines. The Ambassador, for her part, apprised the Hamburg officials of positive developments in the Philippines, such as the newly-enacted Start-ups Law and the country’s steady rise in the Global Innovation Index as well as the Embassy’s already active engagement with the city-state’s business sector.
Hamburg is home to Germany’s largest port and is considered as the country’s gateway to the world. European aircraft company Airbus also has a manufacturing facility in the city-state, which is the primary supplier of single-aisle passenger aircraft used by Philippine carriers.
Amb. Dizon-De Vega presents State Secretary Möller with a token from the Philippines
The two sides are also looking into a possible Embassy participation in Hamburg’s major cultural events and similar activities. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also discussed possible Philippine participation Hamburg’s Gender and Diversity programs as well as in efforts to enhance economic enhancement.
Cultural promotion
Amb. Dizon-de Vega (right) with Prof. Dr. Clavé
In addition to government-to-government ties, the Embassy is also working on enhancing its relations with Hamburg’s academic community.
In line with this effort, the Ambassador along with Political and Cultural Officer Alvin Malasig met with French academic and Philippine Studies expert Prof. Dr. Elsa Clavé of the University of Hamburg’s Institute of Asian and African Studies.
The Ambassador and Prof. Clavé discussed the University’s plan to come up with student prizes for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral theses on the Philippines, a proposed MOU on academic exchanges with the University of the Philippines Diliman, and an immersion program for Filipino language students to be hosted by academic institutions outside Metro Manila.
The Professor also expressed willingness to arrange Filipino film screenings in the University with films to be provided by the PHL Embassy and to assign resource speakers for post-arrival orientation seminars for newly-arrived Filipino migrants together with the Embassy. The Embassy turned over to Prof. Clave a copy of Discovering Dayaw a book by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda based on her NCCA television series on Philippine culture. The book will form part of the Philippine collection of the Institute.
Looking after Filipino nationals
Amb. Dizon-de Vega (left) with Stella Maris Administrator Monica Döring
Ambassador Dizon-de Vega also had the opportunity to visit the Archdiocese of Hamburg’s Seafarers’ Mission, better known as Stella Maris Hamburg.
The Ambassador was given a tour by Mission Administrator Monica Döring of its two-storey heritage building at the Port of Hamburg. The building is equipped with comfortable lounge facilities, a kitchen, and prayer room for its visitors.
Ms. Döring was likewise informed of the Embassy’s regular outreach missions, including overseas registration and voting services for seafarers.
The Mission extends both spiritual guidance and practical assistance to seafarers of all nationalities who visit Hamburg. Its Filipino chaplain, Fr. Ritchill Salinas, SVD caters to the spiritual needs of Filipino seafarers who are among the Mission’s frequent visitors. END
Madam President,
On behalf of the Filipino people, we thank the people of Spain for rising to the extraordinary challenge of co-hosting COP25. We are confident that the Chilean Presidency will deliver on the higher ambition and faster action that the 1.5 Paris goal requires of the global community.
The latest science tells us that our options to survive and thrive are swiftly diminishing. So in this COP, let us finish the work at hand — that which lets us translate the 1.5 Paris goal to concrete actions — “the Paris rulebook.”
Madam President,
Most developing countries today still grapple with the persistent problem of poverty and hunger and of ensuring a brighter future for their peoples.
The task of redirecting our economies toward low carbon development pathways, while surviving the increasing impacts of climate change, is not easy. It is not easy because it requires sacrifices, lifestyle changes, and commitment to posterity. It is not easy because it requires finance, technology, and capacities. It is not easy because it requires sincerity and resolve to act boldly and decisively, which unfortunately has been sorely lacking.
The requisites of sustainable development as concurred to by countries in Rio 27 years ago remain today and are the same to beat climate change, to turn risk into resilience, and to avert future loss and damage to our vulnerable communities.
However, the urgency of action, unequivocally, is most pronounced today than ever. United climate actions must now happen in an ambitious scale, scope, and speed.
The committed climate finance of at least 100 billion dollars by 2020 and every year thereafter for the adaptation and mitigation needs of developing countries must now materialize, beginning with the immediate replenishment of the Green Climate Fund.
At the last Belt and Road Forum, our president had said, “All the UN does is talk about fighting climate change. My country is in the path of every stronger and more destructive typhoon because of climate change. Enough talk already. Let’s act.”
This year the UN Secretary General announced the end of endless talk on climate change and the fast start of climate action. Greta Thunberg has sailed across oceans to deliver the same message on behalf of the younger generations that will suffer most from climate change.
The Philippines, for its part, has been constant in its climate leadership and commitment to act on the climate emergency. As a parliamentarian for the past two decades, I have personally led innovative policy and strategy development for climate action in my country.
We have mainstreamed climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction in our annual national budget — because climate change cuts across all development concerns and trumps on our people’s basic right to food, water, health, shelter, and livelihood. Climate change has been but a clear and present threat to our socio-economic development and human security.
The Philippines has also led in climate legislation with our Clean Air Act for reducing black carbon, our Clean Water Act for addressing wastewater pollution, our Ecological Solid Waste Management Act for reducing solid wastes, our Renewable Energy Act for promoting clean, sustainable energy, our Climate Change Act for strengthening climate governance, our People’s Survival Fund Act for financing local adaptation, our National Protected Areas Act for ensuring ecosystems integrity, and our Green Jobs Act for pursuing just transition to a green economy. We also increased our excise tax on coal importation. And, recently, we enacted our Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act for the effective and judicious use of energy.
Despite my country’s insignificant “survival emissions” of less than half of one percent of global emissions, or 0.3% to be precise, and the burden of prevalent poverty and recurring economic losses from climate change impacts, the Philippines, constrained as we are in means and capacities, has been doing all it can to make a difference in responding to the global climate emergency.
Madam President,
It is in this context that we urge the developed country Parties to rise to the 1.5 climate challenge and uphold climate justice. Deliver on your commitments in the Paris Agreement. Lead in deep and drastic cuts in carbon emissions. Deliver the finance and investments for innovative adaptation solutions in our local communities.
Time slips away so swiftly. The time for action has long passed. Now is the time to catch up. Now is the time to translate words into actions.
As we end the year to welcome a new one — the year Paris Agreement will be fully enforced, let the era of procrastination, inaction and apathy end as well. Let this end present a new beginning for humanity — a new chance to rise to the climate challenge, this time with a renewed commitment and a stronger resolve, and with a transformative and life-changing optimism.
Thank you and mabuhay.
