Consistent with the aim of its 10^th Founding Anniversary centered on “SDGs for the People and for the Planet,” the College of Public Administration held a forum on the Sustainable Development Goals at the UNP Auditorium on March 6, 2024.

With the theme “Hyflex Interaction of Global Youth: Think Collectively, Act Sustainably,” the forum featured three respected speakers who shared their valuable knowledge on the different topics anchored on the SDGs to the Bachelor of Public Administration Students.

First to deliver the topic on the basic concepts of the Sustainable Development Goals was Mr. Randolfo Lopez, adviser of the UNP Student Council.

Emphasizing the importance of taking action without compromising the needs of the future generations, he noted that everyone must be their own boss, in control of their lives, crafting them to make a legacy for the future generations.

Prof. Miriam Javier, environment advocate and retired UNP associate professor, discussed what ecofeminism can teach people about the Sustainable Development Goals. She emphasized that planting a tree as a school organization activity is tantamount to killing a tree if not properly taken care of.

She also called for sustainable tourism by asking the participants to reflect every time they visit a tourist destination. “Ask yourself if gumaganda ba or nasisira,” she noted.

She also noted that women have distinct knowledge of the land, yet their voices are often the last to be heard in environmental planning and management.

The last speaker is Mr. Mark Lovis Galanga, founder/president of Ilocos Sur Environmental Enthusiasts. He stressed the need for an active and robust civil society that can facilitate the urgent realization of the SDGs. Accordingly, important is the need to translate the voices of the poorest into rational and strong arguments.

[Article by Society Salcedo. Photo by Joel Tipon.]