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Embassy of the Philippines, Rabat

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Coordinates: 33°58′3.9″N 6°49′57.6″W / 33.967750°N 6.832667°W / 33.967750; -6.832667
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Embassy of the Philippines, Rabat
Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Rabat
سفارة الفلبين في الرباط
Map
LocationRabat
Address28, Rue Bani Ritoune, Souissi
Coordinates33°58′3.9″N 6°49′57.6″W / 33.967750°N 6.832667°W / 33.967750; -6.832667
AmbassadorLeslie J. Baja
WebsiteOfficial website

The Embassy of the Philippines in Rabat is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Morocco. It is currently located in the Souissi neighborhood of southern Rabat, near the Finnish, Norwegian and Russian embassies. Although the current embassy dates from 2019, the Philippines maintained a previous resident embassy in Morocco from 1979 to 1986, and again from 1990 to 1993.

History

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Although relations between the Philippines and Morocco were established on April 10, 1975, the Philippines did not immediately open a resident mission in Morocco. A first embassy was opened in 1979,[1] but was closed in 1986 after the People Power Revolution. A second embassy was established in 1990, but was closed in 1993 due to financial constraints.[2] While there was no resident embassy in Morocco, the country was under the jurisdiction of other nearby missions, including the Philippine Embassy in Madrid,[3] and the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli.[4]

In 2019, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced that the Philippine Embassy in Rabat would reopen, part of an expansion of the country's diplomatic presence under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.[5] This was confirmed with Moroccan authorities after the two countries signed an air services agreement in September 2019,[6] and the embassy provisionally reopened on December 27, 2019.[2] However, its operations were hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco, with the embassy not being able to actually operate until October 2020, after COVID-19 restrictions were eased in the country, and its inauguration was delayed until Independence Day, June 12, 2021.[2]

Staff and activities

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The Philippine Embassy in Rabat is currently headed by Ambassador Leslie J. Baja, who was appointed to the position by President Duterte on December 3, 2020.[7] Prior to becoming Ambassador, Baja, a career diplomat, previously served as Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs with the Department of Foreign Affairs.[8] His appointment was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on December 16, 2020,[9] and Baja presented copies of his credentials to Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on June 14, 2021.[10]

The embassy's activities center around providing to the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers and other Filipinos in Morocco. Since its reopening, it has conducted consular and labor outreach missions throughout the country, including in Casablanca,[11] Fez,[12] Marrakesh,[13] and Tangier.[14] In addition to Morocco, the embassy also exercises jurisdiction over Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.[9]

After presenting his credentials to Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, Baja proposed the establishment of a Philippine honorary consulate in Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital, to strengthen the Philippines' presence in the country.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Letter of Implementation No. 95, s. 1979". Official Gazette. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Mabasa, Roy (June 16, 2021). "'Historic' 123rd Independence Day rites held at PH Embassy in Morocco". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  3. ^ "Philippine Embassies reach out to OFWs". The Manila Times. August 19, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  4. ^ Takumi, Rie (April 18, 2014). "PHL eyes labor pact with Morocco to protect OFWs". GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Ramoran, Carol (February 23, 2019). "LOOK: Philippines marks 65th year of German ties with new model embassy". Rappler. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  6. ^ Ngueyap, Romuald (September 13, 2019). "Le Maroc signe un accord aérien avec les Philippines" [Morocco signs aviation agreement with the Philippines] (in French). Agence Ecofin. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  7. ^ ACTION: CONFIRMED – Appointment From July 27, 2020 To June 3, 2021 (PDF) (Report). Commission on Appointments. p. 2. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  8. ^ "AMBASSADOR LESLIE J. BAJA TAKES OATH AS PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO MOROCCO" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Rabat. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Tamayo, Bernadette E. (December 17, 2020). "Commission on Appointments OKs nominations of 2 envoys". The Manila Times. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO MOROCCO PRESENTED COPIES OF HIS CREDENTIALS TO FOREIGN MINISTER NASSER BOURITA" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Rabat. June 14, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  11. ^ "PHILIPPINE EMBASSY DELIVERS CONSULAR SERVICES TO FILIPINOS IN CASABLANCA" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Rabat. June 21, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  12. ^ "RABAT GOES TO FES" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Rabat. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  13. ^ "PHILIPPINE EMBASSY CONDUCTS CONSULAR SERVICES IN MARRAKESH" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Rabat. July 17, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  14. ^ "PHILIPPINE EMBASSY DELIVERS CONSULAR AND LABOR SERVICES TO FILIPINOS IN TANGIER" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Rabat. August 16, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "AMBASSADOR LESLIE J. BAJA IS NEW NON-RESIDENT PH ENVOY TO MAURITANIA" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Rabat. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
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