17 October 2017, Bangkok – Heading the Philippine delegation to the inaugural ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Sustainable Development, DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Jose Luis G. Montales highlighted the priority given by the Duterte administration to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for all Filipinos.

True to the principle of leaving no one behind, Undersecretary Montales informed ASEAN and EU delegates that the Philippines has integrated the SDGs in its own national development framework:  through Ambisyon Natin 2040 for the long term, and under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 for the medium term.  He elaborated that the Duterte administration envisions the country to move up to upper middle-income status by 2022, way ahead of the timeframe of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

He subsequently called on all Member States of ASEAN and the EU to realign their national development priorities to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and to put the said Agenda at the heart of ASEAN-EU cooperation.

The Philippines also started discussions on Gender Equality in Promoting the Sustainable Development Goals – Empowerment of Women and Girls as a Key Driver of Change, and took the opportunity to reiterate key points in the ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change during the session on Promoting Green Growth and Addressing the Challenges of Climate Change.

The ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Sustainable Development was organized by Thailand in its capacity as ASEAN Country Coordinator on ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations and ASEAN Coordinator on Sustainable Development Cooperation. It was co-chaired by Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Mr. Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development. END