The Philippines’ campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term will be a central agenda item as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. undertakes a two-day working visit to New York.
”This candidature is about shared responsibility. It is about ensuring that the voice of the Philippines– and of developing countries – is heard at the highest forum of global peace and security,” Marcos said.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro emphasized the strategic value of securing the seat, saying it would allow the country to help shape decisions on international peace and security.
”Mahalaga po ito, unang-una po magkakaroon tayo ng boses para makatulong humubog sa pandaigdigang agenda at para sa pagdedesisyon sa isyu po ng pandaigdigang kapayapaan at seguridad,” she said.
Marcos, who arrived Sunday afternoon accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, is also set to use the visit to advocate for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing Middle East crisis. A planned meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is expected to focus on the escalating conflict in the region, according to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez.
“Push for the peaceful settlement of the conflict that’s going on. For us, most especially the Philippines, it’s very important for this conflict to be resolved as quickly as possible,” Romualdez said.
The ambassador highlighted two key reasons the conflict hits close to home for Manila: its economic impact, and the safety of overseas Filipino workers stationed across the Middle East — the fourth-largest contingent of foreign labor in the region.
Marcos framed his diplomatic engagements within a broader call for global cooperation, telling media he intended to “share the aspirations of the Filipino people for peace and solidarity.”
“I will call for restraint, dialogue, and respect for international law,” the President said, adding that simultaneous armed conflicts and worsening climate-related emergencies underscore the need for what he described as principled, consensus-driven leadership on the world stage.
The presidential delegation was received upon arrival by Romualdez, Philippine Ambassador to the UN Enrique Manalo, Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro, and members of the Philippine mission in New York.
