Governor of La Union Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David granted Geneva Cities Hub an interview. This is a follow-up to her participation at the Mayors’ High-Level Presentations during the WSIS Forum 2023 in Geneva.
What was the purpose of your visit to Geneva and what was its highlight?
I had the privilege of being invited by the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) to participate as a High-Level Speaker at the Mayors’ High-Level Panel organized by the Geneva Cities Hub at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum.
While there were numerous significant highlights, if I had to choose one, it would be the fact that I was the youngest and the only Filipino Chief Executive to have the privilege of being a High-Level Speaker at such a prestigious forum.
Additionally, the networking opportunities I gained as a High-Level Speaker, and the best practices and initiatives I learned about were also remarkable highlights of my visit.
I am pleased to share that thanks to my visit, I was able to attract potential project partners and investors for the Province of La Union. As of now, discussions and preparations for the partnership are proceeding well, and we hope to see implementation and tangible outcomes soon.
What kind of benefits does La Union draw from your engagement at the international level?
Engaging at the international level, such as the WSIS Forum 2023, provides La Union with the opportunity to showcase its local initiatives to an international and multi-stakeholder panel. It offers a platform for La Union to collaborate with other local officials and business leaders worldwide to exchange best practices, identify emerging trends, and form partnerships to pursue sustainable and innovative solutions for addressing local challenges.
Furthermore, having an expansive network that extends beyond the Philippines can facilitate potential partnerships, international grants, and even attract investors. The benefits that La Union derives from participating are immense and bountiful.
What are the priorities for La Union that are also addressed at the international level?
My administration’s focus revolves around the P.U.S.O. Agenda, which stands for:
-
- People Centered and Driven Governance
-
- Universal Access to Basic Needs
-
- Sustainable and Progressive Economy
-
- Orderly, Sustainable and Resilient Component Local Government Units (LGUs) and Barangays (communities)
As my Transition team and I were preparing for my assumption of the Governorship and discussing the P.U.S.O agenda, I was pleasantly surprised by how well our local agenda aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With that said, here is how La Union’s priorities are also addressed at the international level:
People Centered and Driven Governance
-
- SDG 15 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), specifically through building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Universal Access to Basic Needs
-
- SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), specifically ensuring access to nutritious food.
-
- SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), specifically providing quality healthcare services.
-
- SDG 4 (Quality Education), specifically expanding the provision of quality education.
-
- SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), specifically ensuring access to clean and sustainable water.
-
- SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), specifically ensuring access to decent housing.
Sustainable and Progressive Economy
-
- SDG 5 (Gender Equality), specifically promoting women’s empowerment.
-
- SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), specifically promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.
-
- SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), specifically building resilient infrastructure.
-
- SDG 14 (Life Below Water), specifically conserving and responsibly using ocean, seas, and marine resources.
-
- SDG 15 (Life on Land), specifically protecting, restoring, and promoting terrestrial ecosystems, managing forests, halting land degradation, and biodiversity loss.
Orderly, Sustainable and Resilient Component LGUs and Barangays
-
- SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), specifically through disaster risk reduction, transport, and sustainable cities and human settlements.
Is La Union a member of international city networks? If yes, what do you value most in these city networks’ membership?
Yes, La Union is a member of international city networks such as the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, among others.
What I value most about these city network memberships are the impactful connections that government units and the private sector are able to build. These connections serve as a strong support network, strengthening our capacity to deliver improved services to our constituents. Through these networks, we have expanded opportunities for knowledge sharing, human resource exchange, and resource augmentation for our sustainable development initiatives.
Does your national government connect with you on any international issue?
To be blunt, I can honestly say that there is an effort to connect international issues to the local government; however, the frequency of such connections can still be improved. The cascading of international issues at the local level helps bridge the gap between planning (theory) and implementation (practice).
For example, in the Philippines, international concerns such as the SDGs are cascaded down to the local level through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Series of local workshops are conducted to strengthen the awareness of Local Governments Units and ensure that localized solutions are integrated into the national government’s respective plans.
The implementation of these strategies is also regularly monitored through the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and the SDGs Results Matrices.
As Governor of La Union, what is your biggest achievement on the international stage?
I have been blessed with opportunities to address the plenary at the ESG Connect Forum in South Korea, be invited as a High-Level Speaker at the Annual Investment Meeting of WeGO in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and serve as the Keynote Speaker of the Asia Pacific Youth Exchange in Phnom Penh, Cambodia this coming August.
However, if I had to choose just one international achievement, it would undoubtedly be my participation at the WSIS Forum. Not only was I the youngest and the only Filipino Chief Executive invited as a High-Level Speaker, but I also gained valuable insights into best practices, networking opportunities, and possible partnerships with distinguished individuals from various places around the world.
My greatest international achievement, at this moment, would be if it leads to the allocation of international grants and investments that support funding projects for the people of La Union.
