Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Quezon City
October 27, 2023

“We are now in the 21st century, there are new challenges in both the local and national levels—issues that were not conceived of by the code’s framers over 30 years ago—that require us to discover, to explore, to employ better ways of capacitating our localities,” said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. when he graced the Philippine Mayors Forum at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Quezon City.

“I welcome this forum which seeks to harness the power of innovation, digital governance, and resiliency-building to ensure that the government can better respond to the demands of the times, and when I speak of government, I speak of government at every level,” the President added in his keynote address.

Bearing the theme, ‘Philippine Mayors Forum: Innovation, Digital Governance, and Resiliency Building towards Accelerated Implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the Philippines’, the Forum was organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“It is a most opportune time for our national government agencies and LGUs to come together—with the support of international partners—to augment our strategies and approaches towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” the Chief Executive continued.

He reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to making the government more transparent, responsive and accessible to the public, saying that “This Administration will remain your leading partner in enhancing your capacities to achieve our sustainable development goals sa Ambisyon Natin 2040”.

DILG Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. attended the event, along with mayors from different cities and municipalities nationwide, national government officials, UN representatives and international experts.

“Together, let us continue working hard to serve our nation—to give a better life to every Filipino and prepare a better country for our next generations,” President Marcos Jr. concluded in his speech.

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