Philippines Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals on Opening Day of 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development
Philippine Ambassador to Thailand and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the ESCAP Millicent Cruz Paredes delivers the Philippine country statement. (Bangkok PE photo)
BANGKOK 28 February 2025 – The Philippines reaffirmed its strong commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations (UN) Member States in 2015, during the opening day of the 12th UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), which runs from 25 to 28 February 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand. The annual APFSD serves as a critical platform for countries of the Asia-Pacific to assess progress, share best practices, and identify forward-looking policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Delivering the Philippine country statement on the Forum’s theme, “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind in Asia and the Pacific,” Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ESCAP and Head of the Philippine delegation, emphasized the importance of data-driven and inclusive approaches in achieving the SDGs.
Ambassador Paredes outlined the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to achieve the five (5) SDGs under review by the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2025.
On health and well-being (SDG 3), the Philippines is strengthening its universal healthcare system, establishing hospital specialty centers, and improving access to nutritious food and health education.
In promoting gender equality and social protection (SDG 5), the Philippines continues to empower women through the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Program, which provides vital support to solo-parent households, and Gender and Development Local Learning Hubs, which offer essential services and programs to women in health, social protection, and livelihood.
To foster decent work and sustainable economic growth (SDG 8), the Philippines is implementing data-driven initiatives, such as the Labor Market Information System, to anticipate employment trends to support the implementation of the country’s employment masterplan.
In capitalizing on the Philippines’ marine resources or life below water (SDG 14), the Philippines is integrating Natural Capital Accounting into national planning and policy-making considerations to ensure the sustainable management of ocean resources.
Recognizing the need for strengthened collaboration to address the multidimensional challenges to achieving the SDGs, the country called for enhanced partnerships (SDG 17) by promoting innovative financing solutions, tailor-fitting countries’ development needs, expanding South-South Cooperation, and leveraging innovation and emerging technologies.
As the Philippines prepares its 4th Voluntary National Review (VNR) of its progress in implementing the SDGs this year, Ambassador Paredes reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to multilateralism as a founding UN Member State, and urged the international community to redouble efforts to accelerate SDG implementation.
As the APFSD continues in the coming days, discussions will further assess regional progress on the SDGs, explore policy recommendations, and identify pathways to accelerate sustainable development efforts. The Philippines will be actively engaged in these dialogues to address sustainable development challenges at the regional level.
The Philippine delegation to the 12th APFSD comprises representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through the Embassy of the Philippines in Bangkok, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the League of Cities of the Philippines. END
Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes (first row, first from right) joins Thai Deputy Minister of Interior Sabeeda Thaised, (first row, ninth from left); United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana (first row, eighth from right); and Heads of Delegation of the 12th Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Sustainable Development. (Photos courtesy of UNESCAP)
For more information, visit https://www.bangkokpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinThailand/.