MANILA, 4 June 2022—The United Nations (UN) Philippines, the diplomatic community, and other partners marked World Bicycle Day at the SM Mall of Asia to make an urgent call for substantial progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, or just eight years from now. Titled "Climate Champions Ride Bikes," the Fun Bike Ride was participated in by about 250 bikers, including UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez; members of the UN Country Team in the Philippines, such as Dr. Leila Joudane, country representative of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Christopher Rollo, country programme manager of UN-Habitat; Ted Monroy, country programme manager of UNIDO; members of the diplomatic community, such as Michele Boccoz of the French Republic; Ahmed Shehabeldin Ibrahim Abdullah of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Anna Krzak-Danel and Tomasz Danel of Poland, Dalibor Micka of the Czech Republic, among others.  Gonzalez said, “This is a special event for three reasons. This is the first time ever that the UN Philippines is marking this Day. This event is also the first big public event that we are organizing since 2020. It is special because it signals our freedom to see and meet with each other face-to-face after over two years of isolation due to COVID-19.” The UN Philippines values World Bicycle Day for the opportunity it offer to advocate for important goals of the UN and our partners, including: promotion of inclusive and green mobility; supporting the Philippines’ climate goals, particularly, reducing our carbon emissions; helping advocate for the transition to green cities; and mobilizing Filipinos to use their bicycles for trips as much as possible, with a view to adopting healthy lifestyles.  “With all of these crucial advocacies carried by World Bicycle Day, riding our bicycles is a small act with great impact on achieving national and global goals,” Gonzalez added. World Bicycle Day was first marked on 3 June 3 2018, when the United Nations first adopted a resolution during the 72nd Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City in April. The declaration was adopted by more than 193 member states that encouraged them to include bicycles in regional, international, and subnational development programmes and policies. [Ends] For more information, please contact: Teresa L. Debuque National Information Officer debuque@un.org

Marawi City, May 19, 2022 – The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) formally wraps up the implementation of the Rebuilding Marawi Project during the project’s culmination event, Handover of Community Management and Permanent Shelters, held on May 19, 2022 in the Islamic City of Marawi. The event was attended by Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Atty. Arnolfo Ricardo B. Cabling, President of Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), Mayor Majul U. Gandamra of Marawi City, and Engr. Al-Khwarizmi U. Indanan, Acting Regional Manager NHA Region IX and BARMM; Head, Marawi Project Management Office;  Gustavo Gonzalez, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, Christopher E. Rollo, Country Programme Manager, UN-Habitat Philippines, In the course of its four years engagement in Marawi, 1000 permanent houses were turned over to internally displaced families affected by the 2017 siege with the last 462 houses awarded in the May 19, 2022 handover event. Constructed with USD 10-million funding support from Government of Japan, the houses were built on land procured and developed by Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and National Housing Authority (NHA). Pre-siege, the 1000 families lived within the three to six meters easement along the Agus River and Lake Lanao – areas officially categorized by the government as ‘no dwell zone’ and others that were affected by the development projects within the post-war Ground Zero/Most Affected Area (MAA). With their houses destroyed by the gun battle between the government forces and pro-Isis militants, life for the 1000 families in the past four years since the war ended was spent in tents, transitory shelters, in home-based arrangement (living with relatives or with friends or renting) within Marawi or in nearby provinces. Others went as far as Manila to find sources of income as the war destroyed not only their homes but devastated their businesses as well. UN-Habitat Country Programme Manager, Christopher Rollo, delivered the message of the UN-Habitat Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific Atsushi Koresawa saying “We and our partners are truly honored to be part of this rebuilding process. The Rebuilding Marawi Project demonstrates that adequate housing is at the center of sustainable development because having an adequate home empowers a family to satisfy its basic needs while providing the space to dream, engage in gainful livelihood, commune with neighbors, and become communities of peace.”  For his part, SHFC President Atty. Cabling stated, “The rebuilding of Marawi through participatory housing entailed a lot of hard work among many partners who not only pooled financial and human resources but also spent thousands of hours on the ground. We thank all of them especially the communities, UN-Habitat, Office of Civil Defense, Task Force Bangon Marawi, and the Local Government of Marawi City. We hope that the partnerships that we have formed here will continue in other parts of the country.” Engr. Indanan of NHA where UN-Habitat built 300 permanent houses in the sprawling Pamayandeg Ranao Residences at Dansalan, “In the pursuit and furtherance of NHA’s objective to provide permanent shelters in support of the Rebuilding Marawi Project under the TFBM, we have found in UN-Habitat a viable and strategic partner -  making our task lighter and more manageable and which provided avenues to our beneficiaries towards their completed recovery.” Oling Manalao, who spoke on behalf of the 1000 families, remarked: “It was not just houses that UN-Habitat built – in the four years that we actively participated in the project, UN-Habitat helped us regain our confidence even as we became known as IDPs – internally displaced persons, through all those trainings, meetings, and coaching that they provided us. Thank you for the livelihood projects that did not just benefit the homepartners but also helped so many people directly and indirectly, through the 82 different kinds of livelihood projects that our Cooperatives managed. Our deepest gratitude goes to the People of Japan who generously provided us the means to start anew, for making it possible for us to rebuild with dignity.” Families previously awarded with the permanent houses are now living in their new communities:  Marawi Resettlement Site (MRS Phase 1) Phase 1: Hadiya Village, Brgy. Dulay West, with 109 permanent houses inaugurated in February 25, 2021 and 120 in MRS Phase II:  Darussalam Village, Brgy. Dulay Proper inaugurated in July 22, 2021, while the 438 (of the 462) families awarded during the handover event will soon be transferring to their houses in MRS Phase III: Norsalam Village, Brgy. Patani – all three lands procured and developed by the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC). 24 houses of the 462 awarded houses can be found at the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Marawi property in Brgy. Patani. The LGU Marawi pitched in its property for the building of a 33 houses by UN-Habitat at a time when procurement of land was posing extreme challenge to the project. At the NHA site, the Pamayandeg Ranao Residences at Dansalan, fifty permanent houses were turned over to displaced families last July 22, 2021 in Brgy. Mipantao-Gadongan, another 150 houses awarded last October 15, 2021 followed by 100 houses turned over last March 3, 2022 all in Brgy, Kilala, bringing to a total of 300 houses built by UN-Habitat at the NHA site. All these totals to 1000 permanent houses which are now owned by qualified families.   For more information, please contact:   Warren C. Ubongen, UN-Habitat Project Manager                                    warren.ubongen@un.org/+63 917 117 1767   Maria Elvira B. Duka, Community Mobilization Team Leader maria.duka@un.org/ +63 977 852 1594

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, Gustavo Gonzalez, gave the following message at the first ever in-person meeting of the Anti-Terrorism Council – Program Management Center (ATC-PMC), to undertake a review of the Threat Assessment Model for Aviation Security, or “TAM Programme”.    Mr. Gonzalez's full remarks are found below: Dear Colleagues and Partners, I would first like to express my appreciation to the Anti-Terrorism Council–Program Management Center for hosting these Review Board proceedings. I would also like to thank each of you here for joining us today. Your presence reinforces our collective commitment to the Threat Assessment Model for Aviation Security, or “TAM Programme”.  This is in fact the first-ever face-to-face TAM Programme Review Board meeting in the Philippines. Which is an indicator of important progress in fighting the unprecedented pandemic. On this occasion, I would like to highlight few points:  First, today, you will hear about the progress made since the launch of the collaboration between  the Government of the Philippines and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. We will outline key recommendations on how to enhance cooperation on threats to civil aviation, which were prepared by the Integrated Project Team - at the helm of which is the Anti-Terrorism Council-Programme Management Center, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the Office of Transportation Security.  Secondly, the TAM Programme aims to establish connectivity between the counterterrorism and aviation security communities at the national level. This will have structural impacts - notably a tailored framework for enhanced interagency cooperation and coordination. This approach was developed in close collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and draws on expertise from the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as well as INTERPOL. Thirdly, ongoing UNOCT capacity building and technical assistance is contributing to the TAM programme through broader programmatic work on the use of passenger data to enhance detection capabilities and counter terrorist movements. The experience in counter-terrorism shows that strong, just and accountable institutions – as reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 16 – are a pre-requisite for States to deny terrorists the space to operate, bring them to justice and provide security to their populations. Lessons learned also show that protecting and promoting human rights, including gender equality, is not an operational or strategic impediment. It is a requirement for successful counter-terrorism. It means embedding gender equality and non-discrimination principles and respecting the right to privacy. It means upholding the rule of law, including fair trial standards, for everyone and at all times. On behalf of the UN and the United Nations Office for Counter Terrorism, it will be our pleasure to explore how, after completion of this project, we can enhance the role of the Government of Philippines as a role model for other Member States undertaking similar efforts. The United Nations system will continue to be your close partner at this pivotal moment for pandemic recovery, counter-terrorism and our efforts to build a future of peace and dignity for all. Maraming salamat po.

Following is the text of UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez's remarks [as prepared] at the Media Launch of the Rule on Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons on 25 March 2022  Chief Justice Gesmundo, Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, Chancellor Carandang and Vice Chancellor del Castillo, our esteemed Presiding Justices and Judges, Chief State Counsel Ortha, Undersecretary Sulit, Executive Directors Fugoso-Alcain, Rojas, and Santiago, President Pimentel-Gana, Head of National Office Valdeavilla-Gallardo, and to all our distinguished guests attending physically and virtually, a pleasant morning. Thank you very much for the opportunity to witness the launch of the Rule on Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Rule). It is an honor to be a part of this milestone which places the Philippines, yet again, at the forefront as this is the first Judiciary-led framework that expedites the naturalization procedure. For this, I offer my sincere and warm congratulations.   This would not come into fruition without the principled leadership of Chief Justice Gesmundo, Associate Justice Hernando and former Chief Justice Peralta. I recognize the members of the Special Committee on Facilitated Naturalization for Refugees and Stateless Individuals who have worked diligently towards the finalization and approval of the Rule. Indeed, the Rule laudably addresses the challenges faced by refugees and stateless persons in applying for Philippine citizenship. It takes into consideration their specific and unique circumstances. By allowing unaccompanied children to apply for naturalization, it fulfills the State's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. These persons of concern no longer need to wait for years before they can become Filipinos through its expedited procedure. Naturalization is now more affordable by reducing costs and introducing the electronic publication of the petition. It also contains favorable provisions with regard to qualifications, disqualifications, and documentary requirements. The Rule serves as a manifestation of the Philippines' unwavering commitment to the advancement of human rights, especially the right to a nationality. This right, enshrined in international and national frameworks, is integral in accessing other rights. This is even more important within the context of the pandemic as it does not discriminate on one's status or nationality.   By providing means to make the acquisition of Philippine citizenship more accessible to refugees and stateless persons, the Rule contributes to the collective vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) to leave no one behind. It is particularly geared towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on ensuring inclusive societies for sustainable development and providing access to justice for all, along with its Target 16.9 on providing legal identity for all which includes citizenship. The UN in the Philippines is one with the Philippine Government, including the Judiciary, in realizing the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs through its UN Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in the Philippines 2020 – 2023 (SEPF). The SEPF aims to support the Philippine Government and complement its updated Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. Under its SEPF, the UN is committed to "uphold the rights of the people it serves and protects" by "address[ing] inequality" among vulnerable and marginalized populations, including refugees and stateless persons. The SEPF’s goal on social cohesion aligns with efforts to provide opportunities for refugees and stateless persons to locally integrate and contribute to their communities. Naturalization is one step closer towards the realization of that goal. Rest assured of my support to the Philippine Government, including the Judiciary, UNHCR and other stakeholders in ensuring a favorable and protective environment for persons of concern. Thank you.