00:00Middle-income countries adopted the Makati Declaration focusing on development financing,
00:05debt sustainability, climate action, digital transformation, gender equality, and social
00:10protection. Philippine officials highlighted the need for inclusive financial tools and stronger
00:15partnerships. The group urged more collaboration among MICS and with U.N. agencies to support
00:21sustainable growth and innovation. SR. Gab DeLiegas tells us more.
00:25The like-minded group of middle-income countries adopted the Makati Declaration at the High
00:33Conference of Middle-Income Countries, highlighting the key priorities of MICS including financing
00:39for development, establishing metrics beyond GDP, debt sustainability, climate action, digital
00:46transformation, science and technology innovation, gender equality, and decent work and social
00:51protection. Department of Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisagan
00:56says the Philippines underscored the urgent need to rethink financial instruments and make
01:02it responsive, inclusive, and attuned to MIC realities.
01:05Through the like-minded group of countries for MICS, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing
01:12sustainable growth, financing for development, and building resilience to global shocks and
01:20multidimensional crisis as articulated in the newly adapted Makati Declaration.
01:26They also urged U.N. agencies to explore new collaborations to strengthen their national
01:31capacities and advance sustainable development priorities. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo
01:36says middle-income countries explored ways during the meeting to help one another.
01:40The meeting explored ways in which the middle-income countries who are uniquely positioned to help one another
01:48partner through novel partnerships of South-South and triangular development cooperation.
01:54He also shared that Trade Secretary Cristina Roque highlighted the Philippines as a model where government and
02:00private businesses working together to push shared economic goals. UN Undersecretary General and
02:06SCAP Executive Secretary Armida Alice Japana says the international organization and MICS are pushing for digital and AI-driven
02:15transformation amid global inequality. Alice Japana also said emerging middle-income countries have reason
02:22to become new development partners, emphasizing peer learning, knowledge sharing, and collaborative
02:28innovations. The like-minded group consists of Armenia, Belarus, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic,
02:36Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Panama, Peru, the Philippines,
02:45Philippines, and Uruguay. Gabumil de Villegas from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
