Inspired Philippine Congress adopts SDG resolution; youth must collaborate

Great news from the Philippines!

Earlier this week, its House of Representatives adopted House No. 565, which expresses its commitment to legislate measures that would ensure that the Philippines meet its Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

As a #MyWorld 2030 advocate, I heartily welcome this legislative success. I particularly appreciate the effort of the principal authors Rizal Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles, Kabataan partylist Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, and BUHAY party-list Rep. Lito Atienza. I also tip my hat to my fellow advocates at 2030 Youth Force, led by Jules Guiang.

So inspired was I by the news that I immediately wrote letters to all three representatives congratulating and thanking them for their service. I also expressed my personal readiness to collaborate in operationalizing House Resolution No. 565!

Indeed, I call on the youth to support and energize the legislators to stand by the house resolution, ensuring that systemic support such as budgets and programs be rolled out nationally.

We young change makers must collaborate with our lawmakers to identify ways to enact the measure. Here are some of the ways that we can help their legislative work:

1. Benchmarking. As of this writing, Filipino MyWorld 2030 field advocates have gathered almost 5,000 survey responses that provide insight on Filipinos’ awareness of the SDGs, the issues and goals most relevant to them, and their perception of improvement or deterioration in the related areas of their lives. Young people can also start volunteering to take similar surveys to let lawmakers know the current pulse of the people.
2. Data Gathering. The UN UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, the UN SDG Action Campaign and UN Volunteers Asia-Pacific has launched a tool that allows anyone to gather responses in various cities through the MY World 2030 survey, also available in offline version. More young advocates can help roll this out at the grassroots level.
3. Providing Testimony. As lawmakers look for ways to enact the bill and identify budget priorities to operationalize House Resolution №. 565, young changemakers must make representations — write letters, send Facebook messages, meet and present to them — on different ways that we are raising awareness and contributing to different Sustainable Development Goals. This allows members of Congress to more easily identify creative, innovative ways to leverage on the resolution that resonate with young people who are also the biggest chunk of their voting constituency.

https://bit.ly/SDG-survey

The Philippine Congress had already cracked the door open. Let us throw open this opportunity and maximize it. Go, youth advocates!

This story originally appeared in Medium.