PH Delegation Shares Valuable Ideas in World Urban Forum
Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Alex G.Chua (seated, fourth from left) with the members of the Philippine delegation to the 10th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF10). (Nairobi PE photo)
ABU DHABI 14 February 2020 – The Philippines participated in the 10th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF10) with the theme, “Cities of Opportunities, Connecting Culture and Innovation” on 08-13 February 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
A total of 168 countries, 13,000 registered participants, 450 speakers at 500 events, and 133 exhibitors participated, according to WUF10 officials.
Philippine Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat Alex G. Chua headed the Philippine delegation composed of officials from the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, National Housing Authority, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Social Housing Finance Corporation, and the respective mayors of Bauang, La Union and Sipalay, Negros Occidental.
The Philippine delegation members actively participated as panelists and reactors in various WUF10 events. They highlighted the Philippines’ responses to various challenges brought about by rapid urbanization, which were warmly received by the audience.
In a video message, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres underlined the need to address climate change. He emphasized that cities suffer from high rates of inadequacy; that more women depend on public transportation; and that urban inequality is also gendered. He urged countries to make commitments to ensure that no one and no place is left behind.
UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Shariff reflected that this is the first time the WUF is held in the Middle East and North African region. She commented that urbanization can be transformed into opportunities, hence the theme, “Cities of Opportunities.” An integrated, holistic and participatory planning can turn urban development into sustainable development, as indicated in the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11.
A significant outcome of the WUF10 is the Abu Dhabi Declaration Document, a 10-page document that compiles the participants’ voluntary actions and commitments for the next two years and beyond in support of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda as an accelerator to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in this Decade of Action.
The WUF is held every two years and is organized by UN-Habitat. The next session of the WUF will be held in Katowice, Poland in 2022. END
For more information, visit https://ww.nairobipe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinKenya/