BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — Regional line agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, private sectors, and other stakeholders in the Cordillera region are urged to actively participate in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Catch-Up Plan, aligning their programs and projects with the outlined strategies and contributing to the collective effort to achieve the SDGs.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Cordillera Regional Director Susan A. Sumbeling made the call after the Regional Committee on SDG endorsed an SDG Catch-up plan to the Regional Development Council.
The SDG Catch-Up Plan outlines the key initiatives, strategies, and policy reforms aimed at bridging the development gaps, enhancing resource mobilization, fostering partnerships, and leveraging the region’s strengths and opportunities for sustainable growth.
The Plan will focus on interventions needed in the lagging SDGs, namely; end poverty in all its forms everywhere (SGD 1); good health and well-being (SGD3); Quality education (SDG4); Gender equality (SGD5); and Peace, justice and strong institutions (SGD16). Efforts will also be made to ensure that progress will continue in the other areas.
In tracking the status of CAR’s SDG Pace of Progress, Rick Jason Aquino of the Philippine Statistics Authority Cordillera presented the results using the Current Status Index which measures how much progress has been made since 2015, and the Anticipated Progress Index, which determines how likely the targets will be achieved by 2030.
Of the SDG indicators, 17 indicators were on track, 26 need acceleration, and 19 are regressing.
PSA-CAR Chief Statistical Specialist Aldrin Federico Bahit, Jr. explained that on-track indicators mean that the current rate of progress indicates the achievement of the 2030 targets; for indicators needing acceleration, they need to accelerate their current rate of progress to achieve the targets, and regressing indicators require a reverse trend to achieve target.
Among the challenges which impede the effective delivery of essential services and development programs are the unique geographical and socioeconomic conditions of the region, including rugged terrain, dispersed settlements, limited infrastructure, and vulnerability to natural disasters. (MAWC, PIA-CAR)
