Philippines vows support for UN development agenda

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has affirmed Congress’ full support for the global post-2015 development agenda to be adopted by world leaders later this month at the United Nations on the eve of its 70th founding anniversary.

The post-2015 development agenda consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 targets covering the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.

It will succeed the Millennium Development Goals which culminate this year.

Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao reiterated on Sept. 2 the government’s commitment to eradicate poverty and enable 100 million Filipinos to reap the benefits of the new global agenda, Ambassador to the United Nations Lourdes Yparraguirre said in a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“Our constituents elected us and placed their trust on us to help transform their communities for the better,” Aggabao said in his statement.

“Our mandate to make laws allows us to do just that and to ensure that our economic growth is inclusive and sustainable. To do this, we continued to transform Congress itself into an exemplar of performance and accountability.”

He joined over 170 speakers and deputy speakers from nearly 140 countries at the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament organized at the UN headquarters by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global organization of parliaments that works to establish democracy, peace and cooperation among peoples.

Held once every five years, the three-day conference adopted a declaration with the world’s parliamentarians pledging to support the post-2015 development agenda by seeking to reconnect people with democracy, tackling the growing public skepticism and disconnect with politics and acknowledging that extraordinary efforts would be needed to build a world that people want by turning the tide against the many challenges that undermine democracy, peace and development.

The IPU also committed to working to achieve reaching Goal 16 on the promotion of peaceful, inclusive societies and the building of effective, accountable and inclusive institutions.