President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday that he looks forward to forging vigorous engagements with the United Nations (UN) in addressing the country’s key issues such as food security, health, education, climate action, and disaster risk reduction.
President Marcos witnessed the signing of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2024-2028 in a ceremony at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace.
“We look forward to vigorous engagements and key issues that bear on the future of our communities including food security, health, education, climate action, decent work, digital transformation, and disaster risk reduction,” the President said during the event.
“We invite new approaches to help promote innovation driven by climate smart and sustainable growth at all levels. We also are fostering access to green financing, lasting peace, and better public services across the archipelago.”
The country’s new Cooperation Framework with the UN covers the period of 2024 to 2028, which coincides with the timeline of the administration, and is oriented to support Philippine government policies and priorities embodied in the 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda, the Philippine Development Plan and AmBisyon Natin.
The President hailed the UN for recognizing peace building milestones in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which offers valuable contribution for peacemaking efforts across the world.
“Our advocacies in the Indo-Pacific and in the global arena for the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes also provide opportunities for a more substantive engagement with the United Nations,” he said.
Marcos also expects the renewed partnership with the UN to be a catalyst for the accomplishment of their shared goals in the coming years for sustainable development agenda.
And with the UNSDCF being the first of its kind under the reformed UN development system, the Philippine-UN collaboration will showcase the best and finest the UN development system can offer the world with programs that provide solutions and have far-reaching impact, and provide good models of co-ownership, transparency, and accountability, the chief executive said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – Office of the United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) said that Tuesday’s milestone was the first time that the Philippine President witnessed the signing of a Cooperation Framework with the UN, signaling the highest Philippine commitment to working with the world body for Sustainable Development in the country and the world.
The UNSDCF 2024-2028 will be a collaborative strategic planning framework for cooperation between the Philippines and the UN Development System in support of the national development priorities and the accomplishment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Human capital development, sustainable economic development, climate action, and environmental sustainability are the strategic priorities of the UNSDCF 2024-2028.
Signing the Cooperation Framework were Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and UN Resident Coordinator Gustavo González. | PND