Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos on Friday called on all city and municipal mayors to align their local initiatives with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In a speech during the Philippine Mayors Forum held at the Crowne Plaza Manila in Quezon City, Abalos underscored the pivotal role of local governments in achieving the SDGs as they are “well-positioned to drive change in their respective communities.”

“The Mandanas-Garcia ruling providing greater resources to local government units (LGUs) presents better opportunities for localities to plan, finance, and implement more comprehensive and effective climate-sensitive SDG-aligned local development endeavors, ” he said.

“The time for decisive action is now.”

Abalos added that these goals could be attained by implementing appropriate strategies to address the new challenges faced by their respective localities.

The 17 SDGs were established in 2015 as an urgent call to action by all countries to tackle global challenges, such as poverty and inequality, climate change, and environmental decline.

All countries have agreed to work toward achieving them by 2030.

Abalos expressed the DILG’s full commitment to shepherding LGUs towards achieving the SDGs. (PNA)