President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. meets with UAE Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary H.E. Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
MANILA, Philippines — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reaffirmed its commitment to support the Philippine economy and its environmental programs, said Malacañang Palace on Wednesday.
During a courtesy call to the President on Tuesday, the UAE envoys spoke with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“In a courtesy visit to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, UAE Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary H.E. Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi said that they value how the Philippine government perceived the UAE as a country that has no enemies and a country that is a good friend to everyone,” said Malacañang Palace in a statement.
According to Malacañang Palace, Alzaabi said that their country looks forward to the Philippines joining the “Global Mangrove Alliance.”
“We have made great efforts to preserve and restore our mangrove ecosystem. As a matter of fact, the law in the Philippines is, you cannot touch mangroves at all, and because of that, the mangroves have grown back,” Marcos said.
The President also assured the UAE that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources looked forward to joining the said Alliance.
Marcos Jr. also thanked the UAE for the assistance they provided for Mayon Volcano relief efforts.
“Thank you very much. I cannot go further without thanking the UAE for the very timely assistance that you provided the victims of the explosion of our volcano,” Marcos Jr. told Alzaabi.
The UAE had previously donated 50 tons of food amid the unrest from Mayon volcano in Albay, which has seen at least 14,000 people evacuated due to a possible eruption.