PH and UN Shares Vision of New Partnership at UN Day Forum
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo emphasizes the need for continued cooperation between the Philippine Government and the UN in the Philippines at the UN Day Forum hosted by the DFA on 22 November 2023.
MANILA 04 December 2023 – Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority Arsenio M. Balisacan called for and shared their visions of a new action-oriented partnership between the Philippines and the United Nations (UN).
At the UN Day Forum held in Makati, Secretary Manalo emphasized the Philippines’ tradition of supporting effective multilateralism. He hailed the recently-signed Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SDCF) with the UN as “both a compass and a platform” to help actors in the international development system craft empowering solutions that will generate meaningful growth for all Filipinos.
“We can usher in changes where they are needed, as they are needed, with national and local actors and communities as the agents of change,” Secretary Manalo stated.
Secretary Balisacan joined the Foreign Affairs Secretary in reiterating the call for UN entities in the Philippines to align their programs with the strategic priorities of the national development agenda, to deliver significant benefits and sustained impacts for the country.
In his remarks, Secretary Balisacan identified key sectors reflected in the Framework’s priority areas that will scale up when UN’s assistance is synergized with the Philippine government’s strategies, including food security, workforce upskilling, and climate action.
“Our end goal remains clear: to focus our concerted efforts on directing resources and plans…utilizing the UN SDCF to enhance our capacity for coherent and effective development practices,” Secretary Balisacan emphasized.
A panel on sustainable solutions and local actions gathered panelists that explored innovative approaches to promote localization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as data gathering for smarter cities and grassroots monitoring of the SDGs.
Dr. Leonor Briones, Director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO-INNOTECH) recalled that the Philippines has long been cooperating with the UN, especially in the field of education in the country and for the ASEAN region.
Mayor Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistroy of Tabaco City highlighted the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) she initiated and noted its potential for local awareness-raising, planning, and implementation of the SDGs.
The second panel centered on the role of partnerships for climate action, environmental sustainability, and disaster-resilience. Speakers discussed collaborative efforts and synergies to advance climate action and financing for sustainable development.
Ms. Yoko Watanabe of the Asian Development Bank discussed the organization’s refocused and integrated approach on climate financing. “By conserving these areas and working on natural resource management, this provides more economic opportunity for local communities in income generation and increases the livelihood improvement chances in the local communities,” she said.
In his closing remarks, DFA Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations Charles C. Jose, reminded attendees of the road ahead and expressed hope that UN Day commemorative activities “promoted a deeper understanding of the UN SDCF and the potentials it offers to us, as agents of change, and partners in transformative collaboration.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs hosted the very first UN Day Forum 2023 with the theme, “Charting a New Generation Partnership: the Philippines and the UN.”
The Forum brought together relevant Philippine government agencies, the United Nations Country Team and agencies’ representatives, the diplomatic corps, development partners, and civil society to discuss meaningful implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), which was signed on 24 October 2023 in the presence of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and will be in effect from 2024 to 2028. END
National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan highlights key areas for scaling up actions to accelerate SDG progress in the Philippines.