RP backs Habitat Agenda of UN

Vowing to "make things happen," senior leaders of Congress have expressed the country’s commitment to a comprehensive shelter program in support of the United Nations Habitat Agenda to improve human settlements worldwide.

The recent First Asian Regional Council Forum of the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat held at the Century Park Hotel in Manila culminated with the signing of a communique.

The forum’s closing ceremonies were presided over by, among others, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, president of the forum, and Sen. Francis Pangilinan and Rep. Prospero Nograles, co-chairmen.

President Arroyo, in her keynote speech at the opening ceremonies on April 24, noted the initiatives being pushed by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Biazon and Nograles in support of programs aimed at giving humane shelter to millions of poor and homeless Filipino families.

During the closing rites, Nograles, chairman of the House committee on housing and urban development, said the forum has given "new meaning" to the word cooperation.

Nograles noted Biazon’s message on the need to promote and support the principles and commitments made in the Declaration of Cities and Other Human Settlements adopted in the 25th Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in June 2001 for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda.

Signatories to the communiqué were parliamentarians from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The conference was also attended by representatives from the European Parliamentarians on Habitat, namely, Croatia, Romania and Turkey, and from the Regional Council of Africa.