President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday received the newly appointed ambassador of Oman along with six non-resident ambassadors-designate, underscoring the Philippines’ push to strengthen international partnerships and expand bilateral cooperation.
At Malacañang Palace, Marcos first met with Omani Ambassador Nasser bin Said bin Abdullah Al Manwari for a courtesy call before formally accepting the credentials of six additional envoys representing Albania, Azerbaijan, Côte d’Ivoire, Iceland, Georgia, and Somalia.
The President expressed optimism about deepening cooperation with these nations across various sectors of mutual interest.
During his meeting with the Omani envoy, Marcos extended gratitude to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and the Omani government for their assistance in securing the release and safe return of Filipino seafarers previously held hostage by Houthi rebels. He also acknowledged Oman’s efforts in granting royal pardons to overseas Filipino workers.
Marcos commended Oman’s decision to keep its borders open to Filipinos at the onset of Middle East tensions, describing the country as a “reliable partner” during times of crisis. Ambassador Al Manwari reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to supporting the Philippines and safeguarding the welfare of Filipinos in the Gulf state.
Both sides voiced concern over continuing unrest in the region and expressed hope for peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy.
Highlighting growing economic ties, Marcos cited the success of the second Oman–Cebu Investment Forum held in Muscat in February, which gathered more than 80 Filipino business leaders. He said the Philippines looks forward to hosting the third installment of the forum in Manila to encourage wider participation.
Nearly 49,000 Filipinos currently live and work in Oman. Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Oman were formally established on October 6, 1980.