21 December 2016 — National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary and Lead Convenor Liza L. Maza led the Philippine participants to the Expert Group Meeting on “Readying institutions and policies for integrated approaches to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda” hosted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in Vienna from December 14 to 16.

Other participants included Undersecretary Roger P. Tong-an of the Department of Health, Mr. Edgardo Aranjuez II of the National Economic and Development Authority, and Third Secretary Juan Carlos C. Borromeo of the Philippine Permanent Mission in Vienna.

During the panel discussions on the SDGs to be reviewed, Secretary Maza delivered interventions on the Philippines’ strategies and initiatives to implement the SDGs, as well as on the need to harmonize social and macroeconomic development policies, and to ensure peace, security, and stability in the ocean space.  Health Undersecretary Tong-an likewise shared the various initiative undertaken in the Philippine health sector to meet the SDGs.

The Expert Group Meeting was a preparatory informal meeting to the 2017 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development which will be held on July 2017, with particular focus on SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, and 14. Representatives from government, international organizations, and non-government organizations were present to share their practices and insights on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. END