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Louella Desiderio - The Philippine Star
May 3, 2026 | 12:00am
Job seekers queue for interviews from various partner companies offering work locally and overseas during a job fair organized by the local government at SM City Marikina.
Miguel De Guzman
MANILA, Philippines — The cooperation between the Philippines and the United Nations (UN) will focus on initiatives that strengthen social protection, promote job creation and accelerate the energy transition this year.
The 2026 priorities were discussed by UN Philippines, Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) and Department of Foreign Affairs during the Third Joint Steering Committee meeting.
During the meeting, the progress under the 2024 to 2028 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the Philippines was discussed.
The UN presented the 2026 Joint Work Plans during the seession, with the discussions focusing on scaling solutions to address interconnected challenges.
Among the priorities discussed for 2026 is strengthening social protection and human capital systems in response to shocks.
The meeting also covered job creation and innovation as a focus area, particularly for vulnerable sectors and micro, small and medium enterprises.
Another priority area for this year is advancing energy transition, disaster resilience and environmental sustainability, including implementation of national climate commitments.
The Philippines and the UN will also focus on enhancing governance and digital transformation engagement and continue the support for the peace process and transition in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The parties also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen coordination mechanisms and improve efficiencies in streamlining and delivery of services.
Despite global challenges and shocks, the Philippines and the UN had strong progress in 2025 in support for the push toward sustainable development and transition to upper middle-income status.
The parties cited outcomes such as expanded immunization coverage, advances in maternal health policy, strengthened inclusive education systems and continued progress in governance, peace building and resilience, including in the BARMM and energy transition.
DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the Philippine government is committed to ensuring that the UN-Philippines Cooperation Framework delivers tangible outcomes that support national priorities and improve the lives of Filipinos.
“We are looking forward to the UN and our partners to continue providing strategic and high-impact support,” Balisacan said.
For his part, UN resident coordinator Arnaud Peral emphasized the importance of adaptability and systematic approaches in achieving the Philippines’ development objectives.
