SFA-AGR-801-07                                                                                                                                      25 OCT 2007

UN DAY REMARKS

By The Hon. Alberto G. Romulo

Secretary of Foreign Affairs

At the UN Day Reception

24 October 2007, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

14^th Floor DFA Building

Your Excellencies,                                                                                                                      Ms. Nileema Noble, UN Resident Coordinator,                                                                                Other Representatives of UN Agencies in the Philippines,                                                        Representatives of Government Agencies,                                                                                   Postmaster General Hector Villanueva,                                                                                           My Dear Colleagues from the Department of Foreign Affairs                                                  Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

Thank you for accepting my invitation to this very important event.

Today is not merely a tradition. It is an affirmation of our commitment to the principles which built, and continue to build, the institution we have entrusted to deliver peace and prosperity the world over. 

Yesterday, coming from the airport, I recalled the many inspiring ideas drawn out at the 34^th Session of the UNESCO General Conference. Poverty alleviation; Cultural diversity; Heritage preservation; Education for all; Ethics; Science and technology for sustainable development – to name a few.

I addressed the General Policy Debate of the Conference in Paris last week. Mindful of the hurdles yet to be overcome as we approach the MDG target date of 2015, I beckoned UNESCO to be our partner in our pursuit for creative development financing.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

At UNESCO, I proposed the creation of an expert committee to develop innovative financing in favor of debt swaps for education and later on for science, culture and communication.

Earlier at the 62^nd Session of the UN General Assembly, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed the importance of addressing poverty to transform the Philippines into a modernized nation.

I am happy to note the progress made by the Philippines in this direction.  Extreme poverty has been drastically reduced from 20.4 percent in 1990 to 10.2 percent in 2006.

According to a report made by the National Economic and Development Authority, halfway through the 2015 target, the Philippines has made considerable progress particularly in nutrition, gender equality, reducing child mortality, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, and access to safe drinking water.

The achievements were affirmed by a recent ADB/UN report which cites the Philippines as an “early achiever” on eight of the 21 indicators.  Again, education figures well as the key to improving targets, particularly on poverty alleviation.

While there is reason to celebrate, ‘halfway through the targets’ means ‘a lot more needs to be done’.

Certainly for the Philippine Government, the GDP growth of 7.5 percent in the second quarter and 7.1 percent in the first quarter must be improved, if the target of 8 percent must be achieved by the end of the year. Eight percent GDP growth rate in eight years -- that is the goal of this Government to move the country truly forward.

The signs are very encouraging.  The peso is strong, macroeconomic fundamentals are right, and business climate is bullish. We must, therefore, keep charging ahead, each and everyone in his or her own ability and right.

As nations and economies become increasingly interdependent, the resumption of  meaningful talks for the Doha Development Round of the WTO becomes all the more imperative. Ultimately, we favor a multilateral trading system that is fairer, more transparent and more supportive of equitable development.

Allow me take this opportunity to amplify another issue that is close to the heart of the Filipino people – that of global migration.

To complement our advocacy in promoting closer cooperation in migration issues at all levels, the Philippines has spearheaded the adoption of the international convention to protect the rights of all migrant workers and their families. 

I am delighted to see a development of progressive thinking on this matter among receiving and sending states. After all, migration’s potentials for development can be made for the mutual benefit of all.

Towards this end, we must support continued dialogue to better understand the effects of migration.  Next year, the Philippines will host the Second Global Forum on Migration and Development in keeping with our commitment to help our migrants and those of other nations.

The Philippines supports the UN in promoting fundamental human rights, in enhancing the dignity and worth of the human person, in protecting children, and in fostering the equality and empowerment of women.  We look forward to working with the newly established UN Human Rights Council.

While the Government and the Filipino people endeavor to find a lasting solution to our own issues in Southern Mindanao with the assistance of UN and other development agencies, the Philippines has led initiatives for yet another creative modality to increase peace and understanding. I refer to interfaith dialogue.

Last month, I chaired the Second Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue for Peace.   Vice President Noli de Castro spoke for our country at the UN High-Level Dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace.

In 2009, the Philippines will draw together the members of the Non-Aligned Movement for a special Ministerial meeting on interfaith dialogue.  This will be held in Davao City – one of the bastions of tri-people dialogue in our country.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year as we celebrate the founding of the United Nations, we renew our pledge to stand up and speak out against poverty and for the MDGs. Let our voices be heard and our actions be felt.

I thank the UN System in the Philippines for helping us with key socioeconomic development projects to achieve our goals.  The exhibit at the Lobby downstairs is only a glimpse of what the UN does in the Philippines and in the region.

My special thanks to the UN Resident Coordinator Nileema Noble for her kind contribution to this Reception. And to other UN agencies, particularly UNIC in helping us with the various activities for our celebration of UN Week, please accept my sincerest thanks.

I also thank Postmaster General Villanueva for choosing this event to unveil the commemorative stamps on the Millennium Development Goals for this year.

Please enjoy the rest of the evening.

/allan