House bent on passing bills in support of 2030 UN goals—Romualdez
At A Glance
- House Speaker Martin Romualdez affirmed the commitment of the House of Representatives for the passage of bills in support of the 2030 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez affirmed the commitment of the House of Representatives for the passage of bills in support of the 2030 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
One of these bills is House Bill (HB) No. 4000, or an act establishing a National Evaluation Policy—which seeks to strengthen the organizational framework that shall oversee regular conduct of monitoring and evaluation of government intervention intended to promote sustainable development.
The establishment of such framework will help determine the proper implementation of the country’s policies and programs to achieve and support good governance.
“The House of Representatives is fully dedicated to supporting the enactment of the National Evaluation Policy Bill and other legislative initiatives aimed at realizing the 2030 SDGs,” said Romualdez.
The Leyte 1st district solon gave this assurance during a courtesy call of officials from UN agencies on Monday, Nov. 4.
The UN officials requested an audience with the Speaker to express their support for evidence-based policymaking including capacity building on evaluation, budgeting for policy implementation, and evidence generation, as well as the passage of the National Evaluation Policy bill.
“We recognize the critical role of robust evaluation mechanisms in shaping effective policies and programs,” Romualdez told the officials.
“A comprehensive and systematic approach to evaluation will not only enhance the efficiency of government initiatives but also ensure transparency and accountability in our pursuit of sustainable development,” he added.
Romualdez, leader of the lower chamber, has endorsed the proposed National Evaluation Policy to the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for inclusion among the priority legislations.
Aside from this bill, the Speaker reassures the House’s commitment to pass other measures directed at the UN SDGs.
“The House of Representatives is eager to actively engage with and support various legislative measures that align with the SDGs,” he stressed.
“By working collaboratively with our counterparts and stakeholders, we aim to create a legislative framework aligned with the policy direction of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. that promotes inclusivity, environmental stewardship, and social progress,” he noted.
Also known as the Global Goals, the SDGs were adopted by the UN in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. --Dexter Barro II