PH Highlights Efforts at Localizing the Philippine New Urban Agenda at the Ninth Session of the World Urban Forum

Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNEP & UN-Habitat Uriel Norman R. Garibay highlighted Philippine initiatives in localizing the Philippine New Urban Agenda during the Ministerial Roundtable of the Ninth Session of the World Urban Forum.

21 February 2018 NAIROBI — Philippine Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat Uriel Norman R. Garibay announced at the Ninth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9) in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia last 07-13 February 2018 that the Philippines has marked its breakthrough in localizing the Philippine New Urban Agenda through the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022.

The PDP 2017-2022 advocates for a National Strategy that sets the direction of future growth recognizing population, geography and the role of cities as engines of economic growth toward inclusive development. Ambassador Garibay also highlighted that the Philippines’ partnership with UN-Habitat particularly in the area of climate resiliency has assisted in enhancing the technical capacity of local governments as well as the national government in creating an enabling policy framework in support of local government actions. Further, the work of UN-Habitat on the ground has assisted in engaging and empowering local actors in achieving and addressing the New Urban Agenda.

Ambassador Garibay underscored that the support of local governments and the creation of a critical mass of cities that will take ownership of the New Urban Agenda are critical in the initiative. He further cited that the adoption of the New Urban Agenda at the Third Conference of the UN Human Settlements Program (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016 has provided the Philippines an opportunity for policy integration and coherence such as with the recent launching of the Philippine National Resettlement Policy Framework (NRPF) and the National Urban Development and Housing Framework (NUDHF) 2017-2022.

WUF9, which was convened under the theme “Cities 2030 — Cities for All: Implementing the New Urban Agenda” was the first Forum to be convened since the adoption of the New Urban Agenda at the Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador in 2016.

It was participated in by over 25,000 participants from national and local governments and stakeholder groups, among others. Many speakers highlighted the New Urban Agenda as a way of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG 11 on sustainable cities. END

For more information, visit www.nairobipe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/NairobiPE

Members of the Philippine Delegation to the Ninth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9) include representatives from the Philippine Permanent Mission to UNEP & UN-Habitat, Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, National Economic and Development Authority, National Housing Authority, Social Housing Finance Corporation, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board,  Commission on Population, City Governments of Angeles and Calapan, Local Governments of Dumaguete and Tagum, and the League of Cities and Municipalities. Also in the photo are other participants of WUF9.