Heroes Hall, Malacañan Palace
December 3, 2018

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte recognized several government agencies, government officials and employees who have exhibited excellence in their field of work as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) National Organizing Council (NOC) at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace.

“When the Philippines assumed Chairmanship of the ASEAN during its 50th year in 2017, I considered it as a distinct privilege for our country and a great responsibility for our world. For the challenges was indeed enormous and challenging, I never once doubted our capability to succeed in this endeavor, mainly because of the abled and dedicated people behind the ASEAN National Organizing Council,” President Duterte said.

The Chief Executive conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu to ASEAN NOC Chairman Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, and former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

He also bestowed a posthumous award, the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Kalasag, to PO1 Mark Mendoza, a local police who was killed by a van on October 16, 2017 while manning traffic along the North Luzon Expressway as part of the route security operations for the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting.

“We are saddened by PO1 Mendoza’s untimely passing and remain hopeful that his heroism would inspire other fellow government workers in putting our nation’s interest above all else, “ President Duterte said.

The historic event gathered world leaders of the ASEAN Member Countries to discuss key economic and political concerns. Among those successfully signed was the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers that would benefit over 200,000 Filipino migrant workers in the region.

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