MANILA, Philippines?The Philippines has been elected chair of a United Nations body tasked with promoting the world organization?s goals and enhancing its role in international affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

The DFA, in a statement, said the Philippines would be heading the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, which was formed based on the 1975 proposal of the country?s then foreign minister, Carlos P. Romulo.

Lasting legacy

Romulo, who served as president of the UN General Assembly from 1949 to 1950, pursued the establishment of the special committee to examine proposals to bolster the UN?s role in maintaining peace and security, to advance cooperation among nations and to promote international law.

?The special committee is a lasting legacy that the Philippines and General Romulo have given to the UN. It is significant that the Philippines will chair this key UN body as it observes its 35th year,? the DFA quoted Hilario Davide Jr., Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations, as saying.

Davide?s deputy, Carlos Sorreta, will represent the Philippines in the special committee?s 2010 session, the DFA said. The committee, which convened on March 1, plans to complete its work this week.

The body has been tackling issues like the strengthening of the UN role in keeping international peace, proper application of sanctions, peaceful settlement of disputes, impact of sanctions and assistance to third states affected by them and request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the use of force without approval by the Security Council.

Manila Declaration

When the Philippines last led the special committee, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution on Nov. 15, 1982 that adopted the so-called Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes.

The DFA said that in his long and historic service in the United Nations, Romulo gave particular emphasis to the rule of law and the maintenance of peace and security, which are at the heart of the work of the special committee.

?So great was the importance General Romulo gave to the work of the special committee that he decided to give his final farewell to the UN during the 1983 session of the special committee,? the DFA said.

Romulo died in 1989. Jerome Aning