The relationship between the Philippines and the United Nations (UN) has evolved with "more mature" and "outward-looking synergy, President Marcos said.
Marcos made the statement as he witnessed the signing of the 2024-2028 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SDCF) by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, National Economic Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González in Malacañan on Tuesday, Oct. 24.
In his speech, he emphasized that the new cooperation framework "deepens, expands, and elevates the partnership between the Philippines and the United Nations."
He said that the new document, signed on the 78th anniversary of the founding of the UN, shows how Philippine partnership with the UN has evolved.
"It is now Infused with a more mature and outward-looking synergy of efforts, serving the interests of both the Philippines and the United Nations as we work for a safer and more prosperous world," Marco said.
The President cited that the framework covers the period of his term and is oriented to support Philippine Government policies and priorities embodied in the 8-point socio-economic agenda, the Philippine Development Plan, and Ambition Natin 2040.
He also expressed hopes that the new cooperation framework would help in addressing key national issues from food security to disaster risk reduction in the country.
"We look forward to vigorous engagements on key issues that bear the future of our communities including food security, health, education, climate action, decent work, digital transformation, and disaster risk reduction," Marcos said.
He also said that the partnership with the UN can be "a catalyst for the accomplishment of our shared goals in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development."
The collaboration, he added, "will showcase the best and finest the UN development system can offer the world with programs that provide solutions and have far-reaching impact."
"The UN-SDCF brings with it not only the legacies of the Philippines constructive and long-standing engagement with the United Nations, it also signifies our role in shaping more inclusive and effective multilateral institutions that embrace and bring tangible results to us all," Marcos said.
"The UN-SDCF also acknowledges how the Philippines' best practices and experience, which we have established over decades, can help the achievement of the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) agenda elsewhere through south-south cooperation platforms," Marcos added.
The Chief Executive also pointed out that the UN recognizes that the peacebuilding milestones in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) "offer valuable insight for peace making across the world."
The SDCF sets the areas of cooperation between the Philippines and the UN from 2024 to
2028 and provides strategic direction for UN activities at the country level.
It also guides the Country Programmes of the 17 UN agencies, funds and programmes represented in the Philippines, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme, among others.