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NEW YORK, United States — The Philippines was reelected to another two-year term in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), garnering the biggest number of votes among the 18 countries that won seats in the 54-member body, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations here announced Monday (local time).
In his report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Ambassador Hilario Davide Jr., Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said the Philippines received 185 votes to allow it to continue serving in the body until 2012 when its two-year term ends on December 31.
“The Philippines was eagerly supported by countries and reelected to a second two-year term because member-states value the contributions of the Philippines and its diplomats in the Ecosoc,” Davide said. He credited the election to the country’s active participation and substantive contributions to the policy work of the body on issues under its purview since 2007.
The Ecosoc, which is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to member-states and the United Nations system.
It is responsible for promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress; identifying solutions to international economic, social, and health problems; facilitating international cultural and educational cooperation; and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Ecosoc has the power to make or initiate studies and reports on these issues. It also has the power to assist the preparations and organization of major international conferences in the economic and social and related fields and to facilitate a coordinated follow-up to these conferences. With its broad mandate the Council's purview extends to over 70 percent of the human and financial resources of the entire UN system.
“The Philippines will strive once more to be worthy of the trust and confidence the member-states have reposed in the country by participating actively, working constructively, and exerting every effort to make a positive contribution to the crucial work of the Ecosoc,” Davide said.
The Philippines, which also topped the elections for the 2007-2009 term in 2006, garnered a total of 185 votes out of a total number of 188 member-states of the UN present and voting. The three other votes were abstentions.
Also elected in today’s elections were Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Iraq representing Asia; Belgium, Canada, Italy, and the United States for Western Europe and Other States; Slovakia and Ukraine for Eastern Europe; Argentina, Bahamas, and Chile for Latin America and the Caribbean; and Comoros, Egypt, Ghana, Rwanda, and Zambia for Africa.
