Government assures plans on track to advance 2030 development agenda

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star), Apr. 28, 2016

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has assured the international community that it has taken steps to implement its own development agenda side-by-side the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra recently led the Philippine delegation to the high level thematic debate at the UN headquarters in New York City where he communicated the country’s initiatives to advance the 2030 Agenda since its adoption in September 2015.

Esguerra was accompanied by Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Lourdes Yparraguire and National Statistician Grace Bersales.

The SDG is a set of 17 goals agreed upon by various states to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice and address the effects of climate change by 2030.

“Our ministry for socioeconomic planning is leading the effort to institutionalize SDGs in the country’s development planning, investment programming and budgeting. Subsequent efforts will also include mobilizing our local government units and communities to help localize the SDGs and mainstream them into local plans and programs. Accordingly, we shall include SDGs in the Philippine Statistical Development Program to ensure that data collection to support the SDG indicators will receive funding from the regular budget,” Esguerra said during the thematic debate.

He added that multi-stakeholder consultations have been conducted to assess the proposed global indicators based on their importance, availability and relevance to the country’s context.

Through the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Philippines would use a strict monitoring system to ensure systematic and timely gathering of data for the regular tracking of progress and accomplishments.

“Moving forward, the Philippines will formulate an SDG Implementation Roadmap to serve as an overall framework to guide government and other key stakeholders on the necessary actions, resources, responsibilities and partnerships to ensure the success of SDG implementation. Gender equality, climate resiliency, and fiscal responsibility shall inform this roadmap,” Esguerra said.

He said the successful attainment of the SDGs is best ensured by the informed participation of all stakeholders in decision-making, implementation, and monitoring and review of progress.

“To this end, we will need to strengthen national capacities, especially those of local leaders and communities who will directly work towards the attainment of the SDGs,” he said.