Outgoing Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev (leftmost) receives the Congressional Medal of Achievement from the House of Representatives on Friday, October 2, 2020. (Screenshot from House of Representatives’ livestream)
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives conferred the Congressional Medal of Achievement to outgoing Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev on Friday, as it recognized the work and contribution of the envoy in fostering stronger bilateral relations between the Philippines and Russia.
House Resolution No. 1265 adopted by House lawmakers stated that Khovaev, who was designated ambassador to the Philippines in March 2015, “played a material role for the turnaround from the previously cold relations between the two countries to the presently significant Philippines-Russia bond.”
The resolution was introduced by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Representatives Martin Romualdez, Maria Laarni Cayetano, Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., Raneo Abu, Dan Fernandez, Abraham Tolentino, Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, Ann Hofer, Divina Grace Yu, Samantha Louise Vargas Alfonso, and Bienvenido Abante Jr.
“It is but proper to honor the invaluable work and contribution of outgoing Ambassador to the Philippines of the Russian Federation H.E. Igor Khovaev, whose tour of duty in the country enhanced and deepened the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Russia especially through political consultations and support in areas of trade and investment, tourism, education, labor, cultural cooperation, anti-drug trafficking, defense cooperation, and health,” the document read.
It added that his work is “invaluable to the bond fostered between our countries throw the successful conduct of consultations, and meetings, including official working visits of several Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and President Rodrigo Duterte’s two courtesy visits to the Russian Federation cooperation on many policy aspects, including national defense and economic exchange.”
The lawmakers noted that during the assignment of Khovaev, trade and investments between the two countries continuously increased through exchanges of information and collaboration on activities as shown by the total $1.36 billion trade in 2018 alone.
The resolution also read that the Russian Federation has continuously offered its military capabilities and technology to enhance the Philippines’ national defense and potentially develop nuclear energy resources in the South China Sea, through the enablement of the first ever port call to Russia of the Philippine Navy and implementing arrangements between the Department of National Defense and the Russian Ministry of Defense.