President Marcos Urges Mayors to Explore International Partnerships for Enhanced Public Service

Quezon City, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called on local chief executives to consider forming international partnerships to bolster public service in their respective communities. The directive came during the Philippine Mayors Forum held at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria.

According to a news release by Philippines News Agency, the initiative aims to address contemporary challenges at both local and national levels that were not envisioned 30 years ago when the existing frameworks were created. Marcos emphasized the need for mayors to learn from their international counterparts to improve public service delivery in their localities.

The President asserted that the forum symbolizes his administration’s dedication to making the government “more transparent, more responsive, and more accessible” to the citizens. He also encouraged the mayors to fully utilize the forum as a “very effective multiplier” for capacity-building in local government units (LGUs).

Marcos expressed optimism that the forum’s discussions would contribute to the “wider adoption of multi-level governance; the rise of smarter, more sustainable communities; and the emergence of stronger, more resilient local institutions.” He emphasized the importance of innovation, digital governance, and resiliency-building for governments at all levels to be more responsive to current demands.

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

According to the DILG, the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is central to the administration’s Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, which will guide the country’s development for the next six years.

Marcos stated that the UN’s involvement in the forum indicates the necessity for local governments in achieving the 2030 Agenda for SDGs. He also pledged ongoing support to the LGUs, assuring them that the national government will continue to be their primary partner in enhancing their capabilities and achieving sustainable development goals.