Renato Duenas Jr. (left) presents his consular commission to Rashid Abdulla Al Qaseer on Friday.

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

A seasoned career diplomat for 23 years has officially assumed the post of Philippine consul general to Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

He is Renato Duenas Jr. who presented his consular commission to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation (Dubai Office) Deputy Director Rashid Abdulla Al Qaseer on Friday morning.

The former Art teacher whose previous overseas assignments were at the Philippine diplomatic missions in Egypt, Iran and Libya, is the sixth career officer to head and lead the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai which is responsible for the protection and welfare of the over 400,000 Filipinos as well as in-charge of promoting the Philippines’ interests in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

The consular mission was formally inaugurated on April 6, 2004, almost 24 years after the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi was officially opened on June 17, 1980.

On Friday, Al Qaseer welcomed Duenas’ appointment, pointing out that the top diplomat’s four-year tenure as the consular mission’s deputy consul general (2018 to 2021), provides a unique advantage for both the UAE and the Philippines.

According to the press release forwarded to Gulf Today, both officials highlighted the increasing number of Filipinos across the seven emirates. Also, both took note of the many Novel Coronavirus-related needs and challenges.

Moreover, Duenas took the opportunity to renew the commitment of the Philippine Government to pursuing greater cooperation with the UAE, particularly with the Emirate of Dubai, in all areas of mutual interest. He was grateful for the support the host government is extending to his countrymen.

On his new role, Duenas said: “I am extremely honoured to be assuming post as consul general in one of the most dynamic cities in the world and the second home of nearly half a million Filipinos. While the task is a daunting one, I am confident that, with the support of the host government and the Filipino community here, we can and will overcome the challenges that lie ahead. Rest assured, the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai will do its utmost in helping Filipinos continue to thrive in this part of the world.”

Duenas’ predecessor, Ambassador Paul Raymund Cortes, is currently Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs-Migrant Workers Assistant Secretary.