Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo has filed House Bill No. 7504 seeking the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals Council to ensure that the country’s targets in achieving the 17 SDGs are being met and the SDGs in the policies, plans, and programs of all government agencies and local government units (LGUs) are integrated.
Under HB No. 7504 or the proposed "Sustainable Development Goals Council Act,” the chairperson of the Mindanao Affairs reminded that SDGs should be adopted as a core framework on the national and local government’s creation of its policies, budgets, institutional, and regulatory frameworks, considering that the Philippines, as a member-state of the United Nations, is a signatory in adopting the 17 SDGs in 2015.
“The SDG Council should be the governing body in ensuring that our targets in achieving the 17 Sustainable Goals are being met, and the capacity development of the different national agencies and local government units in integrating the SDGs in their policies, plans and programs,” Dimaporo said in his bill’s explanatory note.
The House leader said his proposed eight-man SDG Council shall be under the umbrella of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
“Furthermore, this bill will institutionalize a recognition system for local government units (LGUs) who will be more proactive in incorporating the SDGs in their local policies, plans, and programs, which will ultimately benefit the whole country in terms of eradicating poverty, raising the standard of living of everyone, inclusive overall growth, and sustainable management of our natural resources,” he said.
Under HB 7504, the Council is expected to develop, and implement an incentive and reward system, based on merit, to encourage the establishment of private sector and local government programs that aid in the fulfillment of the SDGs.
The Council,which will be chaired by the NEDA Secretary, is also tasked to consolidate and record the whole-of-nation approach in attaining the SDGs.
Among the 17 SDGs are ending poverty and hunger, good health, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, clean energy, good jobs, economic growth, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities.