聽The Assistant to the Rector for UST Santa Rosa, Prof. Philipina A. Marcelo, PhD, and Engr. Seigfred V. Prado, PhD, Executive Assistant, joined from June 6-7, 2024 the City Government of Santa Rosa, Laguna led by the Mayor, Hon. Arlene B. Arcillas, in the 鈥�1st Voluntary Local Review (VLR) Consultation-Workshop鈥� in which the City endeavors to adopt the tool developed by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in measuring its achievements聽 and contributions to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the City integrates the SDGs into its development thrusts.
In her Messages at the opening of the event, Mayor Arcillas emphasized the initiatives taken by the City from years ago in integrating the SDG global objectives in the City鈥檚 local programs, which now culminate to Santa Rosa becoming a pilot city in adopting the UN ESCAP Tool.听 鈥淚 wholeheartedly endorse this initiative, cognizant of the prestige and responsibility accompanying our role as a pilot city,鈥� she said.听 She mentioned how she issued Executive Order 13 Series of 2024, creating the Technical Working Group (TWG) that shall be responsible in crafting the City鈥檚 VLR.
A few days before the two-day Consultation-Workshop, Prof. Marcelo and other officials of the University met with the Vice-Mayor, Hon. Arnold B. Arcillas, and the CPDO Coordinator, EnP. Ermin V. Lucino, MPM, to align many aspects of the short- to long-term plan for UST Santa Rosa with those of the City of Santa Rosa. Vice-Mayor Arcillas and EnP. Lucino recognized UST Santa Rosa as an important private Higher Education Institution (HEI) partner of the City, particularly in its initiatives to become a 鈥楽mart City鈥�, the characteristics of which are consistent with the SDGs. In his Message at the Consultation-Workshop showing how the City has been continuously pursuing opportunities to collaborate with its stakeholders to achieve the SDGs, EnP. Lucino shared that the City was planning to establish a Technology Business Incubator (TBI). However, 鈥渨ith the University of Santo Tomas bringing their TBI at their Santa Rosa campus, we need not establish our own. We just have to partner with them,鈥� he said. EnP. Lucino emphasized that this sharing of expertise and resources leading to inclusive economic prosperity is consistent with SDG #17 (Partnerships for the goals) and other SDGs interrelated with it.
The City鈥檚 VLR TWG is being supported by the UN ESCAP Team led by Mr. Omar Siddique. The TWG, through EnP. Lucino, recommended to ESCAP to team up with SDG experts from UST to assist in preparing the City鈥檚 VLR. Prof. Marcelo received the recommendation favorably for UST to collaborate with UN ESCAP and the VLR TWG of Santa Rosa. 鈥湶萘袷悠碘�檚 decision to develop UST Santa Rosa as its Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship external facility is precisely to be in a better position to serve in nation-building and in addressing global issues through collaboration and cooperation. We welcome opportunities such as this. UST will definitely take part in this landmark endeavor of the City of Santa Rosa every step of the way. We are proud to be a part of this initiative,鈥� she said.
The activity was organized by the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) of Santa Rosa as lead organizer with support from other offices of the Santa Rosa City government and various national government agencies such as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). It was attended by Santa Rosa LGUs, representatives from the industry, the education sector and other stakeholders of the City.
