Excellencies,

President Rodrigo Duterte’s Socio-Economic Agenda centers on achieving peace, social progress and sustainable development - with no Filipino left behind. The mid and long-term development plans of the Philippines, as contained in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 and AmBisyon Natin 2040, incorporate all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in its guiding framework.

For the Philippines, following are our priority issues for the 73^rd session of the General Assembly:

1. A transparent and inclusive implementation of the ongoing comprehensive and transformative reforms of the UN Development System;
2.  The inclusion of multidimensional poverty measures as one of the performance indicators for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda;
3. Strengthened international cooperation to ensure the safe, orderly and regular migration involving full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of migrants, regardless of their migration status, as well as of refugees and displaced persons. We welcome the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration;
4. Increased investment in, and involvement of the youth, to ensure the full realization of their capabilities, and thus reap the demographic dividend;
5. Stronger political commitment to end persistent health challenges, such as tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases, cholera, malaria and HIV/AIDs. We also support the deliberative discussions on mental health and universal health coverage;
6. Active and sustained advocacy for the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in the area of climate change and resilience. Discussions on disaster-risk reduction should be elevated to the highest levels, across the UN system and amongst Member States;
7. Strengthened South-South and Triangular Cooperation as a strategy to promote collective self-reliance and sustain the development efforts of developing countries;
8. Promotion of a culture of peace, intercultural and interfaith dialogue, and cooperation; and
9. Lastly, we will continue to champion family farming, as a mode of production and a way of life. It contributes significantly to food security and rural development. We call on the Group’s active support to ensure the effective implementation of the Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028) which starts next year.

Thank you.