Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta to visit the PH
From the Department of Foreign Affairs
February 27, 2015 – The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Fra’ Matthew Festing, will undertake an Official Visit to the Philippines from March 1 to 7. The Order is also known as the Sovereign Order of Malta (SOM)
The visit of Fra’ Festing will affirm the commitment of the Philippines and SOM to further strengthen bilateral relations at the highest level, especially as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and SOM.
While in Manila, Fra’ Festing will meet with President Benigno S. Aquino III to discuss bilateral relations and to hand-over the symbolic key to 700 houses being donated by SOM to families who have lost their homes to Super typhoon Yolanda. Of the 700 homes, 540 are completed, 64 are under construction, and 96 are yet to built. These core shelters are expected to be finished by the end of May 2015.
Members of the official delegation of SOM will also meet with Vice President Jejomar Binay, Secretary of Defense Voltaire Gazmin, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario, and the Acting Secretary of Health Garin.
On March 5, 2015, Fra’ Festing and his delegation will travel to Basey, Samar to inspect several houses donated by the Order. SOM had built 350 core shelters in the area.
SOM, through its humanitarian assistance relief arm, Malteser International, has continuously been extending various forms of assistance to the Philippines and has contributed significantly to healthcare, hygiene intervention, feeding programs, providing food supplements and medical supplies and disaster relief and rehabilitation. Over the last couple of years, average annual assistance from SOM hovered between 150 million to 300 million dollars.
His Highness Festing is the second Prince and Grand Master of the SOM to visit the Philippines, following the visit of Fra’ Angelo de Mojana di Cologna in February 1979.
Source: GOVPH
