Second Committee Adviser Mr. Dennis Bregala negotiates on behalf of G77 and China at the intergovernmental negotiations on the resolution entitled “Development cooperation with middle-income countries” during the Second Committee work of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters, New York (Photo Credit: New York PM)
NEW YORK, 21 November 2023 – The Philippines made a significant contribution to the successful negotiation of the resolution titled “Development cooperation with middle-income countries,” which was adopted today by consensus by the Second Committee of the U.N. General Assembly. This resolution is critical as it addresses the needs of the majority of the UN membership, especially focusing on the development paths of the 108 countries in the middle-income category, which are home to 60% of the world’s poor. The intergovernmental negotiations for this resolution lasted over a month.
Mr. Dennis Bregala, the Second Committee Adviser for the Philippines to the United Nations, served as the coordinator for the G77 and China in these negotiations. In this role, he represented the 134 developing countries that form the G77 and China, coordinating and consolidating the group's position at each stage of the negotiation. His diplomatic skills, combined with his economic knowledge and legal expertise, were instrumental in managing the complex dynamics among the middle-income countries within the G77 and China, as well as the positions and interests of developed partners in the matter.
Marking a significant advance from past resolutions, the newly adopted resolution calls for concrete actions to develop new progress metrics that complement or go beyond GDP. It proposes the elaboration of a comprehensive, system-wide response plan to address the multidimensional nature of sustainable development and suggests approaches to enable equitable, inclusive, and just transition pathways for middle-income countries. Additionally, it lays the groundwork for continued discussions on overcoming structural barriers that lead to the middle-income trap.
This resolution builds upon a previous one with the same title adopted in 2021. It further advances the dialogue on addressing the varied development needs and priorities of middle-income countries, drawing on the relevant report of the UN Secretary-General and the reports from other pertinent UN agencies and processes.
The Second Committee plenary session adopts by consensus the resolution entitled “Development cooperation with middle-income countries” (UN photo)
The Philippines' leadership in this resolution demonstrates the country's commitment to continuing its growth trajectory, aiming to transition soon to an upper middle-income status and eventually achieve high-income country status, in line with the goals set out in Ambisyon Natin 2040 and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
The Second Committee of the UN General Assembly is the Committee in charge of Economic and Financial matters. It is also the Committee in charge of development issues as it is the main Committee that deliberates on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). END