MANILA, Philippines 鈥斅犅燭he Philippine government has expressed support for the Non-Aligned Movement鈥檚 (NAM) concern over the 鈥渄ire humanitarian crisis鈥� in Gaza.
The NAM is an international organization of 120 countries that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.
According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, the Philippines also endorses the NAM鈥檚 call for heightened support and solidarity with the Palestinian people.
鈥淕eopolitical dynamics and rivalries further complicate our quest for consensus. Now, as ever, the world needs our Movement to be a ballast for global politics 鈥� a credible and conscientious middle ground that balances humanity鈥檚 common ship amidst such difficulties,鈥� Manalo said in his speech during NAM鈥檚 19th Summit held in Kampala, Uganda.
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Manalo also highlighted that the movement must 鈥渞evitalize鈥� itself across three fronts.
鈥淔irst, NAM must consolidate its core as a Movement of developing countries, by developing countries, and for developing countries,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e need to apply NAM principles and rules consistently. Solidarity in truth calls on us to call out aggression, subversion, domination, and any violation of the rule of law, regardless of its perpetrator,鈥� Manalo added.
Furthermore, NAM must also 鈥渃onsciously focus on and take action on common global challenges鈥� such as climate change.
Manalo stressed that climate justice is a common ground of 鈥渉ighest urgency鈥� among countries.
鈥淭he Philippines welcomes the decision at the COP28 on the Loss and Damage Fund and would like to sustain advocacy and engagement on this issue by hosting the Loss and Damage Fund Board. We will host the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Resilience this year in Manila,鈥� he said.
Lastly, the official said that NAM must again claim its role as a 鈥渃hampion of an open, inclusive, and rules-based international order governed by international law and informed by the principles of equity and of justice.鈥�
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