United Nations in Philippines

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in the Philippines. Data in this section is currently being updated and under review.

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Press Release

01 October 2024

Calls for an inclusive future as UN Month 2024 activities are launched

The United Nations in the Philippines kicks off a robust and diverse agenda of events as part of the 2024 UN Month. From regional conferences, forums, and observance of international days, the UN Team will gather national and local players, academe, the private sector, and financial institutions to strategize on a wide range of development issues. This year’s theme, “One Common Future, One Common Agenda,” highlights the continued importance of multilateralism and the need for collaboration and cooperation among all sectors of society in shaping a better and sustainable future for all.To launch the celebrations under UN Month, the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Globe will be illuminated the iconic blue of the United Nations during a ceremonial lighting on 1 October, which will be attended by the UN Country Team in the Philippines and partners from government, and the private sector.Throughout October, UN agencies will hold several events and activities touching upon the broad spectrum of the United Nations’ work in the country, including labor, health, disaster risk reduction, food security, women and children’s rights and participation, environmental sustainability, peace and security, and localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), among others.“This celebration of UN Month is not just an opportunity for us to share what we are doing in the country – it is a call to action following the recently concluded Summit of the Future held in New York last September. During that once-in-a-generation gathering of the world’s leaders, they committed to bold new solutions to the polycrises we currently face, but it will take our collective efforts to realize this vision of a more inclusive and more sustainable future,” said UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez.As part of advocacy and outreach to encourage collective action towards achieving the SDGs, the SM MOA Globe will feature images and slogans from the United Nations’ Act Now campaign. Throughout the month, the MOA Globe will be lit up in the colors of the SDGs, together with information on progress on the Goals and tips on small, but impactful changes that each individual can make.“As a longstanding partner, SM Supermalls is honored to be part of UN Philippines' month-long celebration," SM Supermalls President Steven Tan said. "SM is committed to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. From generating employment opportunities to empowering Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), promoting gender equality and social inclusion, to underpinning environmentally sustainable initiatives across our operations. SM Supermalls strives to uplift communities, especially in those we serve, to contribute to a more robust, resilient, and sustainable future.”The UN Month 2024 activities will also celebrate the first year of implementation of the 2024-2028 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework that guides the UN’s work to support the Philippines achieve its national development priorities and ensure that no one is left behind.

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07 June 2024

UN showcases achievements, reforms in high-level briefing

MANILA, 7 June. The United Nations (UN) in the Philippines today presented the highlights of its work to representatives of 42 UN Member States and development partners. UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo González provided a snapshot of the country’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), identifying areas that are on track, as well as those that are lagging or have regressed. This was followed by an overview of the UN Country Team’s (UNCT) cross-cutting activities towards the fulfillment of the SDGs and the Philippines’ development priorities. The briefing served as a forum for the United Nations to share updates on the implementation of its programmes amid the organization’s shift in focus from traditional development assistance to transformative strategic partnerships for policy and capacity development, knowledge generation and the leveraging of financial resources, as set out under the UN Reform. “The reform brings clarity to the type of services and support to be delivered by the UNCT. In a middle-income country like the Philippines, we expect the UNCT to be more engaged in technical assistance, knowledge sharing and policy advice, rather than the service delivery or international coordination support provided to low-income countries,” said Mr. González.  This new approach is reflected in the Philippines-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2024-2028 (CF), which came into effect at the beginning of the year. Undersecretary Charles Jose of the Department of Foreign Affairs commended the UN for being a valuable partner in government-led initiatives and expressed hope for continued collaboration to achieve the Philippines’ ambitions and address existing challenges. “We hope that more resources and expertise are directed towards areas in which the Philippines is still in the process of building competency, such as up-levelling innovation- and science-based solutions, creating a sound business environment, enhancing climate and hazard resiliency, and other forward-looking projects that support our upper middle-income country ambition,” he said. Notable among recent innovations in the UNCT’s programme implementation is the increase in joint programming among United Nations entities, a strategy that facilitates the pooling of capacities and resources towards shared priorities. Mr. González emphasized that the briefing reflected the United Nations’ commitment to increased accountability, transparency, and coherence: “This is a strong attempt to ensure a more collaborative and integrated UN development system that enhances a whole-of-UN approach to all aspects of the development planning cycle.” Reporting on 2023 UN results At today’s briefing, Mr Gonzalez and heads of UN entities also provided a summary of the results of the final year of implementation of the United Nations Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework 2020-2023 (SEPF), the previous joint framework between the UN and the government. In 2023, the UN was second largest source of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the Philippines with US$ 281.2 million in assistance, according to data from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). See the UN in the Philippines’ Press Release on the 2023 Annual Report and the main achievements last year.

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Press Release

07 October 2024

United Nations Philippines accelerates SDGs at the local level in Surigao

The “Localize to Realize: Accelerating SDG implementation for local and vulnerable groups and communities of women, indigenous peoples and informal settler families” (L2R SDG) project implemented by UN Habitat and UN Women and funded by the global Joint SDG Fund looks at enhancing the capacities of local government units (LGUs) in updating their local development plans through an innovative community-driven Voluntary Local Review (VLR) model to better address socio-economic needs and priorities of various population groups.

The United Nations has been supporting VLRs for local governments to assess progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level and identify drivers for acceleration.

“While governments design national policies and development frameworks, cities and municipalities have their finger on the pulse the best and are therefore in a key position to assess challenges and implement development projects to respond to the needs of their population,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, UN Philippines Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.

The L2R SDG jumpstarts in Surigao City, where some of the most vulnerable communities in the Philippines reside, including the sea-based nomadic Sama Bajau indigenous group and informal settler families.

On top of the list of vulnerable population groups in the city are 200-300 undocumented Sama Bajau and 1,473 informal settler families, which have limited access to basic services and are displaced because of climate change.

“It is all about bringing the global dreams of the Sustainable Development Goals right here where they matter the most – in our barangays here in Surigao, in our homes, and in the lives of our most vulnerable groups,” according to Surigao City Mayor Pablo Yves Dumlao II.

L2R SDG follows a participatory approach, engaging target communities – including women, youth and the elderly – to play an active part in “SDG development planning and monitoring” along with the LGUs.

“There is no ‘one size fits all’ in development. Success relies on understanding the specificities of every city and making the most of the capacities of their people. Localization is critical for inclusive and sustainable development,” Gonzalez said.

Following the Huy-anan nan Bajau sa Surigao (Home for Bajau in Surigao) project of UN Habitat with the Government of Spain through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), L2R SDG will provide housing and livelihood support to assist communities in disaster recovery. The agency’s Global Monitoring Framework rollout will also support Surigao City’s VLR development.

"This project reflects our shared commitment to develop our communities," said Violeta Dominguez, AECID General Coordinator.

UN Women’s “Empowering Women for Climate-Resilient Societies Phase II” or EmPower II project, which advocates for climate resilient and empowered communities for women, will support the joint programme’s target to engage Bajau and informal settler women in SDG planning and monitoring with the LGU through access to resources and networks.

Through the L2R SDG, Surigao City is expected to be a benchmark LGU in the localization of the SDGs. Surigao is one of three cities in the Philippines with ongoing VLRs supported by the UN.

“Local governments are essential catalysts in the acceleration of our 2030 goals with their unique, inclusive, and grounded perspectives on the issues that the SDGs are addressing,” Gonzalez said.

The L2R SDG joint programme is funded through the Joint SDG Fund using funding from Spain as well as the governments of Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and Switzerland.

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19 November 2024

Raising the roof: Building resilience through conserving historic homes in UNESCO World Heritage city of Vigan

One of the best-preserved Spanish colonial towns in Asia that was damaged in a huge earthquake in the Philippines is being repaired with an eye to reducing the impact of future disasters thanks in part to the support of the UN educational and cultural organization UNESCO.In July 2022, a magnitude-7.0 earthquake shook western Luzon , killing 11 people and injuring nearly 600 others. The quake and its aftershocks caused an estimated 1.6 billion pesos ($27.3 million) in damage to infrastructure and agriculture.Among the hardest hit areas was the historic city of Vigan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. About 100 ancestral homes, as well as the city’s 19th century cathedral and bell tower, were severely damaged. Most of the homes are in private hands and securing funding for their repair has been beyond the means of most residents. Lasting impacts of the quake Homeowner Milagros “Mitos” Belofsky remembers well when she received a phone call about the impact of the earthquake on her family’s historic house, the Syquia Mansion—one of the largest Spanish-era homes in Vigan.“I was in Manila and our staff called me right away to say that there was a strong earthquake,” she said, adding that she made the seven-hour drive from Manila to Vigan the very next day. “I saw the house in shambles, what had fallen, what had broken. It was overwhelming.” Two years after the earthquake, the Syquia Mansion and many other Vigan heritage houses have yet to be restored to their former glory.The families that serve as custodians of these historic homes said that aside from the high costs of repair and restoration, they are also facing challenges in rehabilitating the houses the right way, using appropriate techniques and materials to conserve structural integrity and authenticity. UNESCO steps in To help support the Vigan heritage community in post-disaster recovery, UNESCO and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in the Philippines mobilized a team of experts for detailed assessments of several damaged houses and capacity building workshops for homeowners and local craftsmen.The yearlong project was implemented through UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF), a multi-donor fund for the protection of cultural heritage in emergencies. The initiative is the first to be funded by the HEF in the Philippines.Moe Chiba, Head of the Culture Unit at UNESCO’s regional office in Jakarta, said the HEF Vigan project is meant to supplement efforts to rehabilitate the city’s ancestral homes, as the bulk of the Philippine government’s funding for post-earthquake recovery was channeled towards the restoration of the cathedral and bell tower, which are publicly owned monuments “[There was] very limited funding to support the owners of privately owned houses. But the uniqueness of this city [is the] traditional houses which are a perfect example of the blend of Spanish colonial and Chinese trading history,” she said.The project was allocated over $105,000 and was launched in October 2023. Preserving craftsmanship and techniquesOver the course of one year, UNESCO, ICOMOS Philippines and local partners completed the screening of 30 priority ancestral houses—two of which were ultimately chosen to be the project’s main “sample” houses for full structural assessment.A team of 40 architects, engineers and other technical experts examined the Syquia Mansion and the Cabildo House to document the extent of damage and develop recommendations for the proper repair and restoration of the structures.“The utmost challenge was making people realize that documentation is probably the most essential part of restoring historic structures. If you don’t do documentation along the way, if you proceed directly to the restoration, there’s a possibility that you will obliterate the attributes that are significant to that heritage structure,” said ICOMOS Philippines Chairman and President Cheek Fadriquela. Blueprint for restoration Findings of the assessments formed the basis for a master plan to rehabilitate the Syquia Mansion and the Cabildo House. These were also translated into the building blocks of a capacity building programme for over 80 of Vigan’s homeowners and craftsmen, including masons and carpenters.The series of workshops and hands-on training activities were conducted to provide the city’s residents with the technical knowledge needed for proper maintenance and upkeep of heritage houses, including information on woodwork, plastering, painting and the sourcing of appropriate materials for repairs.According to Emmeline Versoza, homeowner and custodian of the Villa Angela ancestral house and a participant in the workshops offered through the HEF-Vigan project, such capacity building activities should continuously be provided to homeowners and those who work in heritage house restoration. “If we say that we are a heritage city, the architects, engineers and contractors should really have the expertise,” she said.The HEF-Vigan project will share the lessons learned from the assessments of the Syquia Mansion and Cabildo House through publications outlining best practices in heritage conservation in Vigan.Most notable of these is guidance to help the city mitigate hazards and better prepare for any future natural hazards.The project’s recommendations will be used to update and revise the Vigan Heritage Homeowner’s Preservation Manual, which was originally published by UNESCO in 2010. Looking ahead and building resilience Efforts are underway to include heritage conservation in disaster risk reduction and management plans following the grave impacts of the 2022 earthquake and 2023 flooding on the city since both the local government and residents are determined to help Vigan weather any future storms.“The identity of Vigan is not the same without these historic ancestral houses and structures,” said Vigan City Architect Christian Nico Pilotin, adding, “They are important to Vigan because [the city] used heritage conservation as a tool for development.” This article was originally published on UN News.

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09 October 2024

Waiting for the ‘big one’ – natural hazards in the Philippines

The Philippines is preparing for the possibility of either a super typhoon or a significant earthquake, often referred to by Filipinos as the “big one.”The Southeast Asian country is the most prone to natural hazards in the world, and these hazards are becoming more intense due to climate change.The UN has been working hand-in-hand with the authorities in the Philippines to prepare for a wide range of disasters, as the UN Resident Coordinator in the country, Gustavo González, explains ahead of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction marked annually on 13 October.“The Philippines, with its 7000 islands and many coastal cities, has always been extremely vulnerable to intense weather events and natural hazards. Each year there are some 20 typhoons, and many can transform into super typhoons, which are very destructive extreme weather events. We are seeing more super typhoons as the seas in Southeast Asia warm due to climate change.There are also around 20 active volcanoes across the country, and according to experts, we can expect a 7.2 magnitude earthquake at any time. So, the serious threat of super typhoons, volcanoes and earthquakes, exacerbated by climate change, compels us to prepare for the eventuality of a “big one”, a natural event of huge potential destructive force. The Philippines ranks number one globally in the World Risk Index, which measures vulnerability and exposure to natural extreme events.However, the extent of the country’s vulnerability is not well known outside the region. Indeed, when I arrived in this country as the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, equipped with my long experience in crisis situations, I immediately recognized the uniqueness of this country. I realized that we needed to profoundly reassess the standard toolkit for humanitarian aid and development programming used in other countries to better align it with the distinctive circumstances of the Philippines. In response, there has been a paradigm shift in the work of the UN Country Team towards investing in resilience building, which means enhancing national and local capacities to cope with, adapt to and recover from present and future shocks. This is reflected in a very popular Filipino proverb which says “when the blanket is short, learn how to bend”.Not one-size fits allFurthermore, our approach in the country also must take into account regional differences. When I visited an area affected by Super Typhoon Odette in 2021, I assumed that it would share the same cultural identity and political dynamics as other parts of the country, but this was far from the case.Even on a tiny island you can be confronted with totally different socioeconomic realities, in locations just a few kilometers apart. While one community may ask for mobile phones to rapidly re-establish communications and put solidarity in motion, the neighbouring community may require livelihood support or just some materials to start rebuilding their homes.I remember one inspirational local leader on Dinagat island who was very clear about the priorities of her community following a super typhoon. She respectfully questioned some of our standard and globally practiced humanitarian interventions. She argued that some items were superfluous, while highlighting gaps in other areas, and requested a customized response to improve the effectiveness of the response.What we learn from such experiences is that building resilience starts by recognizing the invaluable capital of knowledge, skills and assets that a community can offer. The people affected are in the best position to decide what they need and where the UN can add value in the aftermath of a disaster. Factoring such wealth of local knowledge into the humanitarian response represents a paradigm shift away from the UN’s standard approach. Portraying affected communities just as a combination of needs and vulnerabilities is oversimplifying a complex reality. Developing the humility to listen, discover and genuinely engage with communities is an absolute requirement.Preparation and ResilienceBuilding [MG1] resilience and preparedness remains the most cost-effective way of addressing natural hazards like earthquakes, floods or typhoons. In the Philippines, an ongoing decentralization process provides local municipalities with a major role in assessing risks and planning for disasters, as well as in developing early warning systems.

I visited a UN Development Programme and UN Habitat-supported project in Albay province in the shadow of the Mayon Volcano where communities were learning to fly state-of-the-art drones. The digital mapping of disaster-prone areas provides essential information for the planning and risk assessment to better predict, prepare for, and mitigate the negative impacts of disasters and other natural hazards. In Mindanao, I met the Bajaus, a group of seafaring indigenous people whose houses were severely damaged by Super Typhoon Odette in 2021. Supported by UN Habitat, members of the community rebuilt their houses according to traditional construction practices and using locally available materials. Recognizing and incorporating local ingenuity has been critical to develop tailor-made solutions. Their houses are now more likely to survive a typhoon.UN collaborationWhile communities are being empowered to take the initiative and prepare for and mitigate the impact of extreme weather or an earthquake, the United Nations is also working alongside the government and other partners to coordinate an international response to those possibly catastrophic events.As the UN Resident Coordinator as well as the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, my role is to, firstly, put global knowledge and practices at the disposal of the government, secondly, to build alliances to support integrated humanitarian and development solutions and, finally, leverage financial resources to make them sustainable. When I started working for the UN, almost three decades ago, there was an artificial division of labor between humanitarian and development work. Such divide was across programmes, strategies and budgets. Today, there is a humble recognition that the nature and magnitude of crises require a more holistic and integrated approach. We call it the “nexus approach”.Our new Anticipatory Action Pilot Programme* brings community knowledge, technology, digitalization and logistics together, in a single formula. We generally only have a 36-hour warning ahead of the arrival of a super typhoon to activate anticipatory action including arranging cash transfers to previously identified people. This money can help families to move valuable assets like boats and tools, as well as to stock up on food or move to evacuation centres. Experience shows that for every dollar we invest in prevention, we save four dollars in reconstruction. As we see, the exposure to disasters and the vulnerability to climate change have compelled Filipinos to cultivate a unique sense of resilience. The “saving lives” spirit is widely spread within local communities. As Filipinos frequently say, “as long as there is life, there is hope.”*The Anticipatory Action Pilot Programme is implemented by UN agencies: the World Food Programme, UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, and supported by the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)UN Resident CoordinatorThe UN Resident Coordinator, sometimes called the RC, is the highest-ranking representative of the UN development system at the country level.In this occasional series, UN News is inviting RCs to blog on issues important to the UN and the country where they serve.Learn more about the work of the UN in the Philippines here.Find out more about the UN Development Coordination Office here.This article was originally published on UN News.

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10 October 2024

UN, Philippine government meet to discuss Human Rights Plan

Following the conclusion of the United Nations Joint Programme on Human Rights on 31 July, the UN Country Team in the Philippines continues to work with the government on further strengthening the country’s human rights mechanisms through the development of the Fourth Philippine Human Rights Plan (PHRP4). On 9 October, UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez and heads of the UN’s specialized agencies met with representatives of the lead government agencies involved in drafting the PHRP4, including the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat, National Council for Disability Affairs, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of Migrant Workers, Committee on the Welfare of Children, Philippine Commission on Women, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. The meeting was convened to share information on the consultation process undertaken by the Government, explore possible areas of collaboration, and provision of technical advice and global knowledge. “Human rights is one of the three pillars of the United Nations, making it extremely relevant to all three pillars of the Cooperation Framework that the Government and the UN signed last year. This new agreement emphasizes partnership with the government, so we take the lead from the government’s own development frameworks, such as this forthcoming Philippine Human Rights Plan,” said Mr. Gonzalez. The Resident Coordinator shared that various UN agencies have engaged in different areas of human rights, including protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, non-discrimination, prison conditions, rights of migrant workers and refugees, and promotion of gender equality among others. Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat (PHRCS) Executive Director Severo S. Catura meanwhile provided key updates on the development of the PHRP4. He noted the active engagement of a broad range of government agencies. Moreover, in the past months the PHRCS has conducted consultations with around 485 civil society organizations in different parts of the country.With the UN’s technical and financial support, seven consultations with over 600 civil society organizations and local government representatives were organized across the country to collect grassroots information and knowledge to enrich the PHRP. The document will be organized with one chapter each for the eight human rights treaties ratified by the Philippines, plus an additional chapter on emerging issues. The PHPR4 will be launched on 10 December or Human Rights Day.

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02 October 2024

First Person: Swapping guns for ballpens in the Philippines

Suraida ‘Sur’ Amil joined the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB) as an 18-year-old with the with the goal of achieving autonomy for the predominantly Muslim regions of Mindanao.After an agreement was signed to end the insurrection and provide a greater autonomy and self-governance for the people of Bangsamoro, she participated in a reconciliation programme supported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to reintegrate and rehabilitate former combatants. Here are her views, to commemorate The International Day of Non-Violence, which is observed annually on 2 October.“From an early age growing up in Bangsamoro, I saw how difficult life was for my parents. They faced different forms of discrimination and they witnessed the brutality of the nine-year-long martial law which was declared in 1972 and which deeply affected many communities across Mindanao, including Muslim populations.My parents had a hard life, they lived in poverty and were not able to achieve their dreams. This has affected my life and the life of my nine other siblings. I had hoped to become a teacher but I was never able to do so as I did not finish school due to the lack of financial support.At eighteen I realized I had to fight for the rights of our people for our self-determination, not just for my generation but also for future generations.A friend of mine was a member of BIWAB and as soon as I heard about its goals, it made me think about the suffering my parents had experienced and what I could do to improve the situation for our community.If you ask me whether I would choose war or peace, of course I would never choose war over peace, but we had to fight for that peace. I spent time operating in the jungles as a combatant. It was a harsh environment living in the mountains alongside wild animals without the comforts of home.But women are very strong; they have the ability to become fighters while at the same time be providers for their families.Ballpens not guns, jilbabs not military uniformsIn 2014 the peace agreement for Bangsamoro (the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, CAB) was signed and so little by little we are transforming ourselves into civilians. I have swapped my combat boots for lipstick, I carry ballpens for writing rather than a gun for shooting, I wear a jilbab and not a military uniform and I have moved out of the jungle and back into my community.I have become a peace facilitator and work with people in my local area on issues such as gender-based violence and how to prevent violent extremism.Islam teaches us to be kind to one another and not to harm other human beings. We have a saying in Islam that if we save one life, it is as if we have saved humanity.I value and am proud of my role as a peace advocate in my community.As part of the workshop discussion on modern forms of communications, which I participated in, I learned how to promote the awareness and prevention of violent extremism on social media. I am now living a life of peace but my message to my young daughter has always been that she should always fight for her rights.When you are fighting for a noble cause, it doesn’t matter if you gain or you lose something, because it is the cause itself which truly matters.” Suraida Amil participated in the Strategic Communications workshop on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) under the EU-STRIVE programme.This article was originally published on UN News.

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Press Release

12 November 2024

UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety meets Pres. Marcos, transport and health officials to promote road safety and safe helmets for all

The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt visited Manila from 7 to 11 November to promote road safety initiatives and advocate for enhanced measures, particularly on wearing safe helmets. Mr. Todt also promoted the #MakeASafetyStatement campaign, a joint initiative of the United Nations and JCDecaux to amplify the core messages of the New Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aims to halve road fatalities by 2030.To kick off his mission, the Special Envoy met with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who pledged to create a road safety task force composed of representatives from the health and transport sectors who will work with the United Nations on road safety initiatives. Mr. Marcos also announced that the Philippines will participate in the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, which will be held in Morocco in February 2025. During his visit, Mr. Todt also met with Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes, and representatives of the international community and private sector to advocate for improved road safety measures, particularly in law enforcement and education.The visit of the Special Envoy comes two weeks after Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (internationally known as Trami) swept through the Philippines, flooding cities and villages and causing severe damage to road infrastructure. His last visit to the country was in April 2023. The silent pandemicEvery year, road-related fatalities claims the lives of 1.19 million people, leaving countless others with severe injuries. This silent pandemic overwhelmingly affects developing nations, where over 90% of the road traffic fatalities occur. Furthermore, road crashes are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years. According to the World Health Organization, road crashes kill almost 9,000 people in the Philippines each year, representing a road traffic fatality rate of 10/100,000 population, while the rate is 6.5/100,000 in Europe (WHO 2021). Wearing a safe helmetWhile there are many causes of road crashes, such as the non-reliability of the vehicles and of the road’s infrastructure and design, the lack of post-crashes services, weaknesses in the road safety management, a dangerous road user’s behavior is still one of the main factors that lead to road fatalities. Asian countries have experienced rapid motorization in recent years, especially concerning motorized 2-3 wheelers. According to the Department of Health, 65% of road crash victims are motorcycle riders“Wearing a helmet responding to the UN standards is a game changer. It reduces the risk of fatality by 42% and of injuries by 69%,” stressed the Special Envoy. #MakeASafetyStatementThe #MakeASafetyStatement initiative launched globally in cooperation with JCDecaux Global promotes the UN Global Road Safety Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of life-saving road safety measures. The campaign, which will run through 2025 in over 80 countries, seeks to reduce risk factors, especially in urban areas, to enable people to walk, live, and enjoy their environment safely. Sixteen global, and dozens of national, celebrities have joined forces to advocate for simple and effective road safety rules: wearing a seat belt, driving safely, wearing a helmet, not texting and driving, not driving under the influence or while tired, and respecting pedestrians. While in the Philippines, Mr. Todt met with International Olympic Committee member Mikaela “Mikee” Cojuangco-Jaworski and Olympic gold medallist in weightlifting Hidilyn Diaz to garner Filipino athletes’ support for the #MakeASafetyStatement campaign.Among the artists, athletes and celebrities who have already pledged to support the campaign include F1 drivers Charles Leclerc and Mick Schumacher, motorcycle racer Marc Marquez, tennis legend Novak Djokovic, football icons Didier Drogba and Ousmane Dembélé, double Olympic Champion in track and field Faith Kipyegon, cyclist Tadej Podacar, Oscar-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, actors Patrick Dempsey, Michael Fassbender, Jean Reno, and Julie Gayet, singer Kylie Minogue, musician Youssou N'Dour, and supermodel Naomi Campbell.--- About the Special Envoy: Former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed in 2015 Jean Todt as his Special Envoy for Road Safety. He was reconfirmed in this role by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in 2017 and in 2021. In 2018, together with 14 UN organizations, the Special Envoy launched the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). The Special Envoy contributes, among other things, to mobilize sustained political commitment to make road safety a priority; to advocate and raise awareness of UN legal instruments on road safety; to share established good practices in this area; to strive to generate adequate funding through strategic partnerships between the public, private and non-governmental sectors.

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Press Release

12 November 2024

United Nations Philippines urges support for Philippine response as series of tropical cyclones devastate the country

MANILA, 12 November 2024 – The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in the Philippines has launched the Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan, aiming to support 210,000 of the most affected people in northern and southern Luzon, specifically in regions 5, 4A and 2, mainly impacted by the past typhoons. The HNP is requesting US$32.9 million in funding to support partners in delivering critical lifesaving and protection efforts over the next three months, focusing on vulnerable groups, including women, girls and persons with disabilities.Over the past month, the Philippines has endured a relentless series of tropical cyclones, with five major storms already hitting the country and two more expected in the coming weeks. The succession of these severe weather events has placed considerable pressure on local communities and the government’s capacity to respond effectively.“Typhoons are overlapping. As soon as communities attempt to recover from the shock, the next tropical storm is already hitting them again. In this context, the response capacity gets exhausted, and budgets depleted,” UN Philippines Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez said.Now, the looming arrival of Tropical Cyclone Usagi (Ofel), forecasted to make landfall by Thursday or Friday and the anticipated entry of Tropical Cyclone Man-yi into the Philippine Area of Responsibility, deepen concerns about worsening the humanitarian situation.“The Humanitarian Country Team has been mobilized since the first impact of “Kristine”. NGOs, UN agencies and the private sector are presently working hand in hand with the various departments and LGUs. The new HNP is expected to fill critical gaps in those areas heavily impacted by the series of typhoons,” according to Gonzalez.The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has approved $3.5 million in humanitarian funds for UNICEF, IOM, WFP, FAO and UNFPA. CERF is one of the fastest and most effective ways to deliver critical humanitarian assistance to those affected by crises.“We call on resource partners to rapidly support the HNP and fill critical funding gaps generated by an exceptional series of storms. The HNP will help us mobilize the capacities and resources of the humanitarian community to better support government institutions at national, regional and local levels. Coordination with the NDRRMC has been exemplary and we commend the leadership of the Office of Civil Defense in setting humanitarian priorities,” Gonzalez added.On behalf of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno expressed appreciation to the HCT and partner agencies in the development of the HNP and urged them to bolster the government’s response capacity.Download the full Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan here.For inquiries, contact OCHA Philippines:
Joseph Addawe, Officer-in-Charge/Information Management Officer
Email: addawe@un.org Melissa Correa, Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Email: melissa.correa@un.org For further information, please visit - [OCHA Philippines] - (www.reliefweb.int) To join or leave our mailing list, please email: ochaphilippines@un.org

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Press Release

14 August 2024

KOICA, United Nations call for an Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Law in PH

The proposed legislation aims to provide a comprehensive national framework for preventing adolescent pregnancies and ensuring the well-being of young children in the Philippines. While the bill has been approved by the House of Representatives, its progress in the Senate has stalled, highlighting the urgent need for action.Recognizing the pressing need, the UN agencies are collaborating on the KOICA-funded Joint Programme on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy (JPARAP) in Southern Leyte and Samar. This program focuses on strengthening comprehensive sexuality education and improving access to adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health services."Having legislation that ensures access to essential reproductive health services is a crucial step towards a more equitable and sustainable future, where every young person can thrive and reach their full potential,” said Gustavo González, UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines. "Adolescent pregnancy is also not just a health issue, but a social and economic one as well. This bill will help us address the root causes of adolescent pregnancy, including lack of access to education and health services."The urgency of the situation is underscored by data from the Philippines’ Commission on Population and Development, which reveals a 10.2% increase in live births by girls aged 10-19 between 2021 and 2022.KOICA also expressed its strong support for the bill. "We believe that investing in young people is essential for sustainable development. In addition to celebrating 75 years of Korea-Philippines diplomatic relations and 30 years of KOICA’s presence in the Philippines, this bill will make us more inspired to strengthen our assistance to the country’s health projects. We assure you of KOICA’s continuing support and commitment not only for better health and well-being, but also a brighter future for young Filipinos," said KOICA Country Director Kim Eunsub.UNFPA stresses the necessity of the bill to remove barriers to healthcare access for adolescents. Currently, young people under 18 require written parental consent for family planning services, which can significantly hinder their access to essential care.“Adolescent pregnancy can result in significant health risks, including increased rates of preventable maternal and infant deaths, as well as the dangerous practice of unsafe abortions. Having a comprehensive framework to address this urgent issue and to protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young Filipinos, will help empower adolescents to make informed choices about their bodies and pave the way for better futures," said UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Dr. Leila Saiji Joudane.Meanwhile, UNICEF underscored the importance of protecting the rights and aspirations of young girls.“Adolescent girls’ dreams to learn and get decent jobs should not be cut short. UNICEF is committed to supporting girls through laws, policies and programmes that prioritize their rights, their agency, and opportunities to pursue their dreams and to prevent early and unintended pregnancies. This bill needs to retain the clauses that better define roles and accountability of duty bearers, which can help everyone in the community to work together to tackle the social factors that lead to more teen pregnancies,” said Behzad Noubary, UNICEF Philippines Representative a.i. “These girls have the right to be informed about decisions that affect their lives. They need support, not stigma and blame,” he said.The World Health Organization also recognizes that addressing adolescent pregnancy is a global health and development priority.“Addressing adolescent pregnancy is part of the global health and development agenda. Together with partners, WHO Philippines continues to address adolescent pregnancy by supporting national programmes and policies. Rights-based policies alongside community-based care and evidence-informed interventions are crucial to strengthening frameworks and strategies to scale up interventions and collective action from various sectors, agencies, and communities,” said Dr Graham Harrison, Officer-in-Charge of WHO Philippines.The UN agencies and KOICA call on all stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and young people themselves, to unite in advocating for the passage of the adolescent pregnancy bill to create a brighter future for young people in the Philippines.About the Joint Programme on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy (JPARAP):This is a joint initiative of UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, and KOICA that aims to reduce adolescent pregnancy in Southern Leyte and Samar. The partners are working closely with the Department of Health, the Department of Education, and the governments of Samar and Southern Leyte, as well as other government agencies in rolling out adolescent-friendly services, building the capacity of community adolescent health service providers, accelerating the integration of comprehensive sexuality education in schools, implementing youth leadership and governance initiatives, and conducting research on adolescent pregnancy and child, early, and forced marriage.The 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study showed that Eastern Visayas, where Samar and Southern Leyte are located, has one of the highest rates of 15 to 19-year-old female youths that had begun childbearing. ###For more information contact:Kristine Guerrero | Media and Communications Analyst | United Nations Population Fund | kguerrero@unfpa.orgLely Djuhari | Advocacy & Communication Chief| UNICEF Philippines | ldjuhari@unicef.orgCling Malaco | Communications Officer | World Health Organization Philippines | cmalaco@who.intMaria Jorica Pamintuan | Public Information | United Nations Information Centre | maria.pamintuan@un.org

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Press Release

09 August 2024

Strengthened human rights: UN Joint Programme on Human Rights in the Philippines concludes

“As a result of working together, emphasizing the multi-stakeholder character of the programme, the Government, the United Nations, the Commission on Human Rights and civil society made significant contributions” said Gustavo Gonzalez, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines. “The United Nations will remain closely engaged in the human rights agenda, which is always evolving.” The UN Joint Programme included Government actors, the Commission on Human Rights, civil society actors and the UN in all aspects of implementation. This contributed to ensuring that activities were relevant to the local context, and interventions reflected a wide range of views. Last December, the Government announced three human rights pledges at the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. These will further reinforce the initiatives undertaken under the UN Joint Programme. These include the establishment of the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination, which aims to institutionalize a robust process for the promotion and protection of human rights through dialogue and joint monitoring, actively engaging civil society and the Forensics Institute, which aims to carry out investigations and thereby elevate the standard of law enforcement and justice delivery. The new Fourth Philippine Human Rights Plan is a comprehensive blueprint for protecting human rights and addressing emerging human rights issues. Steps have already been taken to begin implementation of these pledges. The UN Joint Programme implemented training on the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death, which is an internationally recognized standard for forensic investigations to ensure accountability for violations of the right to life. In addition to bringing global experts to the Philippines, the engagement on the Minnesota Protocol included knowledge exchange with Argentina as part of South-South Triangular cooperation between the two countries, facilitated by the UN Joint Programme. The UN Joint Programme also helped the Philippine Government introduce reforms to its detention system through joining the “Friends of Mandela Rules,” a global commitment to protect the rights of people in detention Trainings, capacity building activities and policy directives under the UN Joint Programme helped the government take steps towards a health- and human rights-based approach to drug policies, which included a commitment to review the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 cemented through the first ever Drugs Policy and Law Review Summit held in July 2024. These results were achieved through close collaboration, including trainings and technical meetings, during which the UN provided advisory support. Over 100 technical meetings took place, and 50 prosecutors, investigators and civil society actors, as well as over 1000 law enforcement officers received training. The United Nations has pledged to remain engaged in human rights promotion and protection in the Philippines: “Much has been achieved already and we must recognize that human rights is always a work in progress, which requires ongoing investment,” Mr Gonzalez said. The US$ 4 million joint programme was funded by international donors (Australia, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the European Union), with the Philippines providing a contribution of US$ 200,000. Click on the link below to read the joint statement of the UN Resident Coordinator and the Secretary of the Department of Justice related to the closing of the Joint Programme.
LINK to the Statement

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Press Release

08 August 2024

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE CONCLUSION OF THE UN JOINT PROGRAMME ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES (UNJP)

In July 2021, the Philippines and the United Nations (UN) launched a three-year joint programme on human rights, within the framework of Human Rights Council resolution 45/33, to facilitate technical cooperation and capacity-building in support of national initiatives and institutional frameworks in six (6) areas: (a) domestic investigative and accountability measures; (b) data gathering on alleged police violations; (c) National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-Up (NMRF); (d) civic space and engagement with civil society and the Commission on Human Rights; (e) human rights-based approaches to drug control; and (f) counter-terrorism legislation. The UN Joint Programme (UNJP) was managed through a multi-stakeholder Steering Committee, led by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the UN Resident Coordinator, bringing together 7 Philippine lead agencies, the Commission on Human Rights, 5 UN entities, 26 civil society organizations, and representatives of 9 contributing countries of the UNJP Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) and bilateral funding – Australia, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union. The MPTF reached a total of 4,005,687.15 USD by 25 January 2024, with the Philippine Government providing 200,000 USD in addition to the budgetary resources allocated by relevant national agencies for projects under the UNJP. Conclusion of the UNJP As stated in the UNJP project document, the joint programme concluded on the 31 July 2024. This marks the completion of a successful journey that the Philippines, the UN, and the UNJP partners have taken to bring about transformative change through practical and rooted solutions to serve the noble causes of human dignity and social justice. In a span of 3 years, the Philippines, the UN, and the UNJP partners convened 6 Steering Committee Meetings and almost a hundred Technical Working Group Meetings. These engagements have been rich, inclusive, collaborative, and fruitful, providing vital and robust platforms for Government, CSOs and the UN and lending credence to the power of partnerships and cooperation in human rights. In this context, the UNJP has set the ground for collective engagement in an area requiring further investments. The UNJP has been cited as a model for innovative, constructive, and transformative cooperation between a sovereign duty-bearer and the UN system in the field of human rights: one that meets mandates for (1) promoting human rights by leveraging best practices and expertise, (2) generating meaningful and enduring results that have positive impact on duty-holders on the ground, and (3) effective multilateral action that is conscious of the demands on accountability and stewardship of resources that resonate in all corners of the UN system. The results of the UNJP are grounded on the following: Philippines’ long-standing cooperation with the UN and the international community in relation to its commitment to advance democracy, rule of law and good governance; The UN system’s collaborative and consultative approach to support states on the implementation of good governance, human rights and development agenda; Situating human rights action within broad UN development-oriented country program; Spirit of dialogue that respects perspectives and values the contribution of experts, practitioners, partners, and civil society actors alike; and Continuing adherence to national and international human rights laws and standards.As part of its concluding procedures, the Philippine Government and the United Nations Philippines, will hold its final Steering Committee Meeting on 09 August 2024 to discuss summary of achievements, and to finalize the delivery of end-of-term requirements pursuant to the UNJP Document, including the conduct of an independent evaluation and a consolidated final report, to ensure the highest standards of transparency, accountability and a lessons learned approach. Forward-looking Ownership The Philippines is ready to sustain and broaden its achievements under the UNJP. Along this line, the government has been actively pursuing three (3) important initiatives which were officially announced by the Philippines at the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Geneva, last December 2023.Firstly, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Administrative Order No. 22 on 08 May 2024 creating the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination (SCHRC). The SCHRC had an organizational meeting on 27 June 2024 to start the drafting and consultation process for the Implementing Guidelines of Administrative Order No. 22. The SCHRC institutionalizes a more comprehensive inter-agency coordination platform and a robust multi-stakeholder process for the promotion and protection of human rights through dialogue and joint monitoring, actively engaging civil society. The Committee will set out pathways for coherent, solutions-oriented and accountable partnerships with a wide range of partners. Engagement with the UN will be conducted under the new 2024-28 UN Development System Cooperation Framework signed with the Philippines.Secondly, the Philippines will establish a Forensics Institute that will serve both as a training and learning institution, as well as a fully operational investigative facility that professionalizes and elevates the standard of law enforcement and justice delivery of the country. The Philippines will engage with bilateral, regional and UN partners to leverage the best available expertise on these fronts. Thirdly, the Philippines is adopting, through a multi-stakeholder process, the Fourth Philippine Human Rights Plan (PHRP4), a comprehensive and progressive blueprint for protecting human rights and addressing emerging human rights issues, such as the rights of older persons and human rights and climate change. To date, 5 of 8 joint regional consultations for the on-going development of the PHRP4 have been conducted involving 319 civil society organizations of various advocacies. The PHRP4 shall be launched through a ceremonial signing on 10 December 2024 in time for the International Human Rights Day. These initiatives offer opportunities for the Philippines, bilateral partners, the UN and its entities, local and international civil society partners to sustain their engagements in an inclusive human rights agenda.

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