Legarda to welcome former UN Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon in Senate

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and other senators will welcome former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the Philippines during the latter’s visit to the Senate on Tuesday, February 27.

Ban Ki-moon is visiting the country to deliver a speech on climate change and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on February 26-28, 2024.

“The Secretary-General’s visit to the Philippines serves as an unyielding testament to his continuous efforts to address current challenges and uncertainties in the world today,” Legarda stated.

“Our country looks up to his leadership and wisdom as we confront the adverse effects of climate change and implement solutions to safeguard the life and future of every Filipino,” she added.

In recognition of Ban Ki-moon’s outstanding contribution to global diplomacy, peacekeeping efforts, and sustainable development, Legarda filed Senate Resolution No. 929, honoring Ban Ki-moon’s dedication and perseverance to strengthen unity among nations.

“His tenure as the eighth UN Secretary-General was marked by a relentless pursuit of peace, advocacy for sustainable development, and efforts to address global challenges confronting humanity, including climate change, economic instability, pandemics and health crises, rights of women and refugees, and increasing pressures involving food, energy, and water,” Legarda noted.

Ban Ki-moon served as the UN’s Secretary-General from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2016. Among his first major initiatives was the 2007 Climate Change Summit, which put the issue on the global agenda and gave importance on tackling economic instability and challenges related to food, energy, and water.

Legarda and Ban Ki-moon met on several occasions, such as during the latter’s visit to the Philippines in 2013 after typhoon Yolanda hit the country, during a special meeting at the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Sendai, Japan in 2015, and at the inaugural meeting of the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) at The Hague, Netherlands, where Legarda was named a Commissioner, on October 16, 2018. (end)