Despite calamities, PH unbowed–Del Rosario

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario: Philippines not alone. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—At the end of a year of unprecedented calamities, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario paid tribute to the resilience of the Filipino people as well as the “overwhelming solidarity” of the peoples of other nations.

“The unparalleled demonstration of compassion and overwhelming solidarity of our key allies, development partners and people from all walks of life have inspired us to soldier on—gently reminding us that the Philippines is not alone,” said the country’s chief diplomat.

“The year 2013 witnessed unprecedented devastation in the Visayas and brazen terrorist attacks in Mindanao. Yet, the Philippines, like the resilience of an Asian bamboo, is truly unbowed,” Del Rosario said in a holiday message sent out to the country’s 84 outposts overseas.

The Department of Foreign Affairs was among the lead agencies that coordinated the international response to the “Yolanda” crisis, serving as the conduit for the flow of foreign aid from around the world.

Del Rosario said the country will face 2014 “unfazed by setbacks posed by the supertyphoon and other calamities,” despite concerns over the impact of the disasters on the local tourism industry and the country’s overall economic growth.

He reiterated President Aquino’s commitment to building a “climate change-resilient Philippines to sustain the economy’s momentum and further improve the quality of life of the Filipino people.”

“While the task of reconstruction is both complex and daunting, we are confident and prepared to meet, head on, the challenges that lie before us,” Del Rosario said.

“Despite Yolanda, the Philippines continues to receive resounding affirmation for its resilient economic performance and good governance reform agenda,” he added.