QUEZON City has been declared a United Nations City—the only city in the Philippines given this recognition.
The citation was announced during the UN Conference on Road Safety organized by the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance.
Aldrin Cuña, city administrator, said QC was chosen in recognition of its efforts in promoting peace, safe migration of overseas Filipino workers, and its partnership with UN-based organizations.
“Because of our commitment to UN conventions and human rights, we have been declared a UN City, and also because of our efforts in promoting peace. We all know Mayor Herbert Bautista is part of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines peace panel,” Cuna said.
Every constituent of the city must be proud of the UN recognition, he said.
As a result of the declaration, the UN flag will now fly alongside Quezon City’s colors at city hall’s flagpole.
“This is a recognition and acknowledgement of the strong partnership between Quezon City and the United Nations, including the various organizations and agencies under UN,” Cuña said.
He said the declaration is also a challenge, especially on all the programs that Bautista initiated.
“All we have to do is sustain all the programs that we are currently undertaking, which are: the peace process, implementation of the rebel returnee program, the protection of migrant workers abroad, and providing them with mechanisms when they return,” he added.
Quezon City will continue to support UN’s sustainable development goals, which are keys to the city’s economic progress and dynamism.