Philippine Mayor Champions SDG Localization at the UN-Habitat Forum in Nairobi

Nairobi, 30 MAY 2025 - Surigao City Mayor Pablo Yves L. Dumlao II presented his city’s pioneering efforts in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the high-level forum on “Multilevel Governance for SDG Localization”,  held on  28 May 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi.

The event, jointly organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, took place on the sidelines of the resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly (UNHA-2.2). 

In his address, Mayor Dumlao emphasized Surigao City’s strong commitment to advancing the SDGs– the global agenda to end poverty, protect the planet, and promote peace and prosperity– by integrating them into local planning and development efforts.  He highlighted the city’s Voluntary Local Review (VLR) initiative, developed in collaboration with the UN Habitat, which tracks and assesses local progress on the SDGs.

Surigao City is one of only four Philippine cities to have completed a VLR, and the first on the island of Mindanao, he said.   The mayor shared that the city has localized the SDGs down to the household level, empowering families to monitor their own progress and actively contribute to broader community goals. “The SDGs will be won or lost at the local level—starting with families,” he said.

Mayor Dumlao also noted ongoing programs in housing and resilient settlements, including initiatives for indigenous communities such as the Sama Bajau.  He added that Surigao’s Regional Development Council had passed a resolution encouraging other local government units (LGUs) in the region to adopt similar approaches to sustainable and inclusive development. 

“Surigao City’s participation in the forum highlights the Philippines’ continuing commitment to strengthening multilevel governance and advancing the global SDGs through local action,” said Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, Philippine Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UN Habitat. END