President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday expressed his gratitude to outgoing United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator to the Philippines, Gustavo González, for his efforts in enhancing cooperation between the Philippines and the UN.

"You did so much between the UN and the Philippines," Marcos told González during a farewell ceremony at Malacañang. He noted the increased engagements between the Philippines and the UN during González's tenure, particularly in response to Covid-19 and support for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

González, who is set to retire from active UN service, described his assignment in the Philippines as a significant chapter in his career. "Mr. President, thank you so much. I very much appreciate your time, but today is also my last day as a UN active officer. So I’m going to retire. No doubt that the Philippines will be in my heart because this is a special moment for me," he said.

González served nearly five years as the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines. Before this, he was the United Nations Development Programme's Sub-Regional Development Coordinator for the Syria-related crisis from 2013 to 2017, overseeing operations in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey.

The UN, established in 1945, consists of 193 member states and focuses on maintaining international peace and security, humanitarian aid, sustainable development, human rights, and upholding international law.