“The Philippine government received congratulatory messages from two countries.

The Philippine government continues to gain praises from the international community following the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which is meant to bring lasting peace and development in Mindanao.

In bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Iran and Norway, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the government received congratulatory messages from the two countries.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif extended his government’s commendation for the passage of BOL and President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy.

Norway Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreinde also congratulated the Philippine government for pursuing peace with the passage of BOL.

Soreinde also discussed with Cayetano the government peace and development efforts in Mindanao.

Cayetano, for his part, invited Iran and Norway to participate in the Duterte administration “Build, Build, Build” program.

The DFA chief had bilateral meetings with Zarif and Soreinde at the sidelines of the 51st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Singapore.

Earlier, the United Nations (UN) hailed the signing of the BOL, which is the result of the decades-old peace negotiations between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The UN also vowed full support for the implementation of BOL – signed into law last week by President Duterte.

At the AMM, the Philppines pushed for and supported initiatives that would make the lives of the people of Southeast Asia more comfortable and secure.

Host Singapore adopted the themes of resilience and innovation during its year-long chairmanship of the ASEAN.