The Philippines notes the progress made in Asia and the Pacific on statistical development, specifically, the advancements in data integration, big data utilization for official statistics, and the development of data governance arrangements. We acknowledge the synergies and opportunities for the exchange of experiences across regions, particularly in these key areas, and we encourage further collaboration and knowledge sharing. These opportunities for inter-regional exchange of experiences are significant by sharing best practices and lessons learned in these areas, regions can learn from each other and foster innovation and the adoption of new methodologies, leading to the advancement of statistical systems worldwide.

We fully support the call by Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) member States for development partners to continue providing coordinated technical, financial, technological, and capacity-building assistance to countries in alignment with their priorities. The country welcomes the UN ESCAP report on statistical development activities and challenges faced by statistical systems in the region. Particularly, the country is interested in cooperating with development partners to provide coordinated technical, financial, technological, and capacity-building assistance aligned with the country's priorities.

As an example of the gains in cooperation between the national government and development partners, the Philippines has adopted the UN ESCAP’s Every Policy is Connected (EPiC) Framework and Tool in the formulation of the Regional SDG Catch-Up Plans to bolster SDG ownership and accelerate progress at the subnational level.

We recognize the importance of continuing to develop and strengthen international statistical standards and providing technical support for their implementation. We emphasize the significance of international cooperation and assistance in advancing statistical development, notably, in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. By ensuring that assistance is tailored to each country's specific needs and priorities, the impact of support can be maximized. Additionally, the continued development and strengthening of international statistical standards, along with providing technical support for their implementation, will contribute to the harmonization of statistical practices globally, enhancing data comparability and reliability.

We stand in support of the call by ESCAP member States to adopt more inclusive ways to engage with Member States and regional groups. We also acknowledge the value of informal consultations, which can provide valuable insights and contributions from countries across the Asia-Pacific region. Reiterating this call, we emphasize the need to adopt more inclusive ways of engaging with Member States and regional groups to foster a diverse and representative statistical community, ultimately leading to more comprehensive and well-informed decision-making processes.