Philippines
Check Against Delivery
Maximum speaking time: 4 minutes
PHILIPPINES
Delivered by
Dr. Rosemarie G. Edillon
Undersecretary for Policy and Planning
National Economic and Development Authority
High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
Trusteeship Chamber, 18 July 2017
Thank you Madame President for giving me the floor.
Madame President:
We align ourselves with the statements of G77 and China and of the Like-Minded
Countries Supporters of Middle Income Countries.
The Philippines was among the first countries to participate in the VNRs under Agenda
2030. This is in contrast to the period of the MDGs, when the Philippines was among the
last.
We have taken stock of the lessons learned, which were, that we need (1) to come up
with an implementation plan that crowds in interest, effort and resources; (2) a financing
mechanism; (3) an M&E system that can exact accountability; and (4) a succession plan
to sustain the effort.
The Agenda 2030, however, is vastly differently from its predecessor MDGs. The goals
are indivisible, as they are interlinked via the targets. Furthermore, the Agenda is built on
two fundamental principles: sustainable development and leave no one behind.
We recognized early on that it is necessary to come up with a long-term vision before we
can think about sustainable development. After all, sustainable development may require
moderating the current economic growth so as not to have adverse social and
environmental impact and imperil future growth. It is also important that all people should
buy in to the idea of "no one left behind," which may require moderating our wants so that
the needs of others are met.
Our solution is to determine the collective long-term aspirations of Filipinos, emphasize
the similarities and capitalize on multiplier effects.
We consulted our countrymen, through focus group discussions (FGDs) and a nationwide
survey. We have summarized the aspirations and translated this into a development
agenda that we will pursue until 2040. The agenda is along four items: (1) Philippines will
PHILIPPINE MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
556 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10036 • TEL. (212) 764-1300 • FAX (212) 840-8602
be a prosperous society, where people enjoy a comfortable lifestyle and no one is poor;
(2) Our peoples will live long and healthy lives, (3) are smart and innovative, applying 21st
century skills, competencies and character qualities in the pursuit of global citizenship,
gender equality, human rights and sustainable development, and (4) will live in a high
trust society. Our President has declared this to be the basis for formulating the next four
medium-term Philippine Development Plans (PDP), including the present.
As we all say, the SDGs require a whole-of-society involvement, but the PDP requires no
less. Therefore, it is important that these two be integrated. As it stands, the Agenda
2030 aligns quite well with our long-term development agenda. And that is why in the
current PDP, all SDGs are incorporated.
The outcomes of the PDP will be monitored by our statistics agency; some SDG targets
are in terms of strategies, which will be monitored using our expenditure management
framework. Implementation will be overseen by Cabinet Clusters, all reporting to the
President.
Our next step is to bring down these plans to local governments, secure their buy-in and
cooperation. We are confident in this; after all, it is for our long-term collective aspirations.
Madame President:
Over the past week, we have actively engaged in the review of SDGs 2, 3, 5, 9, 14 and
17.
Before I close, we would like to recommend having a balanced reporting during the HLPF;
of member states on the one hand and development partners (DPs), particularly the UN
system, on the other.
A number of targets in the SDGs require international cooperation. For instance, SDG 2
talks about:
• enhancing international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research
and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene
bank;
• correcting trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets;
• facilitating timely access to market information, including on food reserves.
Perhaps the DPs can come up with a long-term implementation plan or a roadmap on
these concerns and periodically update us on their progress.
Madame President:
The goals of the Agenda 2030 are all interlinked, just as our responsibilities are. We
recommend getting SDG 17 up and about, in a more systematic way, as early as now.
Thank you, Madame President.
PHILIPPINE MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
556 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10038 • TEL, (212) 784-1300 • FAX (212) 840-8602
Maximum speaking time: 4 minutes
PHILIPPINES
Delivered by
Dr. Rosemarie G. Edillon
Undersecretary for Policy and Planning
National Economic and Development Authority
High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
Trusteeship Chamber, 18 July 2017
Thank you Madame President for giving me the floor.
Madame President:
We align ourselves with the statements of G77 and China and of the Like-Minded
Countries Supporters of Middle Income Countries.
The Philippines was among the first countries to participate in the VNRs under Agenda
2030. This is in contrast to the period of the MDGs, when the Philippines was among the
last.
We have taken stock of the lessons learned, which were, that we need (1) to come up
with an implementation plan that crowds in interest, effort and resources; (2) a financing
mechanism; (3) an M&E system that can exact accountability; and (4) a succession plan
to sustain the effort.
The Agenda 2030, however, is vastly differently from its predecessor MDGs. The goals
are indivisible, as they are interlinked via the targets. Furthermore, the Agenda is built on
two fundamental principles: sustainable development and leave no one behind.
We recognized early on that it is necessary to come up with a long-term vision before we
can think about sustainable development. After all, sustainable development may require
moderating the current economic growth so as not to have adverse social and
environmental impact and imperil future growth. It is also important that all people should
buy in to the idea of "no one left behind," which may require moderating our wants so that
the needs of others are met.
Our solution is to determine the collective long-term aspirations of Filipinos, emphasize
the similarities and capitalize on multiplier effects.
We consulted our countrymen, through focus group discussions (FGDs) and a nationwide
survey. We have summarized the aspirations and translated this into a development
agenda that we will pursue until 2040. The agenda is along four items: (1) Philippines will
PHILIPPINE MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
556 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10036 • TEL. (212) 764-1300 • FAX (212) 840-8602
be a prosperous society, where people enjoy a comfortable lifestyle and no one is poor;
(2) Our peoples will live long and healthy lives, (3) are smart and innovative, applying 21st
century skills, competencies and character qualities in the pursuit of global citizenship,
gender equality, human rights and sustainable development, and (4) will live in a high
trust society. Our President has declared this to be the basis for formulating the next four
medium-term Philippine Development Plans (PDP), including the present.
As we all say, the SDGs require a whole-of-society involvement, but the PDP requires no
less. Therefore, it is important that these two be integrated. As it stands, the Agenda
2030 aligns quite well with our long-term development agenda. And that is why in the
current PDP, all SDGs are incorporated.
The outcomes of the PDP will be monitored by our statistics agency; some SDG targets
are in terms of strategies, which will be monitored using our expenditure management
framework. Implementation will be overseen by Cabinet Clusters, all reporting to the
President.
Our next step is to bring down these plans to local governments, secure their buy-in and
cooperation. We are confident in this; after all, it is for our long-term collective aspirations.
Madame President:
Over the past week, we have actively engaged in the review of SDGs 2, 3, 5, 9, 14 and
17.
Before I close, we would like to recommend having a balanced reporting during the HLPF;
of member states on the one hand and development partners (DPs), particularly the UN
system, on the other.
A number of targets in the SDGs require international cooperation. For instance, SDG 2
talks about:
• enhancing international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research
and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene
bank;
• correcting trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets;
• facilitating timely access to market information, including on food reserves.
Perhaps the DPs can come up with a long-term implementation plan or a roadmap on
these concerns and periodically update us on their progress.
Madame President:
The goals of the Agenda 2030 are all interlinked, just as our responsibilities are. We
recommend getting SDG 17 up and about, in a more systematic way, as early as now.
Thank you, Madame President.
PHILIPPINE MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
556 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10038 • TEL, (212) 784-1300 • FAX (212) 840-8602
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