26 February 2017 BERNE- Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Perfecto Yasay, Jr. visited Switzerland to attend the high-level segment of the 34th Session of the United Nation’s Human Rights Council in Geneva and to have a Bilateral meeting with Switzerland’s Head of Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Didier Bukhalter.

Prior to these high-level meetings, Secretary Yasay made his way to the Philippine Embassy in Berne to meet and have a dialogue with the Filipino Community from all over Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. He mentioned that it is his policy to make sure he meets with the Filipino community in countries that he visits.  

Secretary Yasay addresses members of the Filipino communities in Switzerland and Liechtenstein 

The Secretary took the opportunity to brief the community on the policies and programs of President Duterte’s administration, particularly those that concern the Filipino diaspora. He stressed that the anti-drug campaign of the administration is geared towards ensuring that the Philippines will move towards economic development in which all sectors of society, including the young people and the marginalized, will benefit.

“The goal of President Duterte’s administration is to ensure that Filipinos would only go abroad because of choice and not because of any compelling need to find jobs outside the country,” added Secretary Yasay.

The Secretary also added that the administration of President Duterte is embarking on economic reforms to attract more investments into the country so that there will be available jobs for Filipinos. 

SFA Yasay poses with the Filipino Community

During the open forum, Secretary Yasay readily and sportily interacted with members of the Filipino community, who bravely and openly asked questions pertaining to issues of national security, economic reforms and even consular concerns. END