Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ISA during a special ceremony held on 14 June 2022 in New York, United States.
Ambassador Manalo has been the Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations since 2020. He holds a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of the Philippines in Manila.
“As we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, I am honored and pleased to present my credentials to Secretary-General Michael Lodge as the Philippines’ first Permanent Representative to the International Seabed Authority. With this accreditation, the Philippines reaffirms its firm support to the Authority, under the leadership of Secretary-General Lodge, and its critical role under the Convention, as it fulfills its mandate of organizing and controlling all mineral-resources-related activities in the Area for the benefit of mankind as a whole, while proceeding within the framework of sustainable development,” Ambassador Manalo said during the ceremony.
Secretary-General Lodge welcomed Ambassador Manalo as the new, and first, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ISA, adding that he looked forward to “working closely with him and the Government of the Philippines to ensure that the legal regime for the Area contained in the Convention delivers benefits to all its Members, especially developing States”.
Before this appointment, Ambassador Manalo was Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines (2017) and Undersecretary for Policy of the Department of Foreign Affairs (2016-2020 and 2007-2010). He also served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom (2011-2016), Non-Resident Ambassador to Ireland (2013-2016), Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and Head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union (2010-2011) and Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Philippine Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva (2003-2007).
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms. Stefanie Neno, Communications Specialist, ISA, sneno@isa.org.jm