The Head of UNPOG had a meeting with the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of the Philippines on 24 November. During the meeting, the Secretary shared the Philippine Development Goals encapsulated in the AmBisyon Natin 2040 and specifically on their objective to attain the targets set in SDG 11. The Secretary also shared that the Government of the Philippines is embarking on various initiatives for urban development and strengthening the resiliency of local government units (LGUs) through the adoption of smart and sustainable technology solutions and innovations. In this context, the Secretary renewed his interest in collaborating with DPIDG/UNPOG for a capacity development workshop in March 2023, to be hosted by the Mayor of Mandaluyong City. The workshop aims to focus on the Developing Resilient, Innovative, Vibrant and Efficient Smart Cities Nationwide (DRIVEN Smart Cities) Program, with the Local Chief Executives of provinces, cities and municipalities in the Philippines as primary beneficiaries.