6 hours ago
3
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Helen Flores - The Philippine Star
March 1, 2026 | 12:00am
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received the credentials of three newly appointed ambassadors from Papua New Guinea, Slovakia, and Lao People’s Democratic Republic at Malacañang Palace in Manila on February 28, 2026.
Photo courtesy of Presidential Communications Office
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos welcomed on Friday the new ambassadors of Slovak Republic, Papua New Guinea and Lao, stressing the strong potential for expanded cooperation with the three nations.
Ambassadors Stephen Pokanis of Papua New Guinea, Miloš Koterec of the Slovak Republic and Thiphasone Sengsourinha of Lao presented their credentials to the President during a ceremony at Malacañang.
Marcos said it was a great honor to welcome Koterec as Slovakia’s first resident ambassador, stressing there is much for the two nations to do and develop.
The President said there is a wide range of activities and areas for the Philippines and the Slovak Republic to explore and discuss during the envoy’s tenure in the country.
Koterec said he is fully committed to advancing tangible bilateral relations in all possible fields, including economic development cooperation, investment and business partnerships in areas such as mechanical engineering, the automotive industry and agriculture.
The ambassador noted Slovakia also sees considerable potential in the exchange of knowledge and experience in nuclear technology, education cooperation, academic partnership and mutual mobility of people.
Meanwhile, Marcos expressed hope that the country’s relations with Papua New Guinea would continue to grow and deepen in the future.
Pokanis acknowledged the strong government-to-government and people-to-people relationships and highlighted Papua New Guinea’s support for the Philippines in promoting regional peace and stability.
Marcos also looks forward to further bolstering partnership with Lao. He said “there’s still much that we can do to promote that relationship.”
The President said the Philippines and Lao have established a good relationship not only bilaterally but also through domestic contacts and partnership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The Lao ambassador highlighted robust cooperation in trade and food investments, education and health services.
