Thank you very much Mister Undersecretary General for giving me the floor. First, let me thank you Undersecretary General for convening this very important first quarterly briefing for 2021, and continuing the UNOCT’s tradition of transparency into the new year. I also wish to thank all the presenters earlier who provided very valuable information and insight into the various activities and programmes being undertaken under the UNOCT aegis.
I wish to congratulate you Undersecretary General and your team for UNOCT’s accomplishments in 2020, which are all the more worthwhile given the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. We welcome the strengthened partnerships with Member States and the greater coherence among participating agencies of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. This has led to better policy, coordination and capacity-building programs, much to the benefit of Member States such as the Philippines.
I also wish to express our full support for the priorities you have identified this year. For example, holding of regional conferences and more capacity building.
The Philippines continues to work on the implementation of the Roadmap for the UN Countering Terrorist Travel Programme, including through the passage of our 2020 Anti-Terrorism Act. In this regard I am also pleased to announce that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Executive Order No. 122 on 15 December last year entitled "Strengthening Border Control through the Adoption and Implementation of the Advanced Passenger System". This in accordance with Security Council resolutions 2178 and 2396.
As we commence the 7th Review of the UN Global Counterterrorism Strategy, it is important that we integrate challenges brought about by COVID-19 and global pandemics in combatting terrorism, and the measures needed to address these.
I thank you very much.