Here in the Philippines, schools celebrate United Nations Day with a parade of

costumes and flags of different nations, and holds lessons about cultural diversity. This
is true to the spirit of the United Nations that commemorates friendship and partnership
of nations.

1.) United Nations Day is celebrated on October 24

2.) The Philippines is among the 51 founders of the United Nations.

Its objectives are to promote and facilitate cooperation in international law, international
security, economic development, social progress, human rights, civil rights, civil
liberties, political freedoms, democracy, and the achievement of lasting world peace.

To sum it all up, the U.N doesn’t only save lives. They also help refugees, fights climate
change and promotes sustainable management. So this coming October 24 th, let’s
reflect and highlight the works of the United Nations in the most simplest ways as
possible.

Food security

Climate change and disaster risk reduction

Disaster response and recovery

Health

Education

Peace and security

But did the Philippines not really benefit from its more than 70 years of being a UN member-
state? Short answer is no. Rappler lists what the UN and members of its Inter-Agency Standing
Committee (IASC) have so far contributed to the country.

Contributions to the Philippines[edit]

In the 75 years that the Republic of the Philippines has been a member of the United Nations, the
specialized agencies of this international organization has always provided support to its member
nations.
Food Security
Organizations such as World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO) have intervened in the country’s issues with regard to hunger and food shortage. According to
Social Weather Survey, approximately 3.4 million Filipino families experience involuntary hunger
during the latter part of 2016.[37]the Global Food Security Index ranked the Philippines 72nd of 109.[38]
The WFP has provided nutritious meals for children aged 6- 59 months, pregnant and nursing
women, and livelihood programs for those affected by natural disasters and conflict.. The WFP, in
partnership with the government agency FNRI or Food and Nutrition Research Institute have
developed specially enhanced local produce and micronutrient powder for better health of Filipino
children.[39]
The FAO on the other hand focus on the Agricultural issues of the country. The FAO support areas
in The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that are affected by conflict by
rehabilitating local agriculture and fisheries-based livelihoods of more than 4 Million farmers.[40]
Climate Change and Risk Reduction
The UNDP or United Nations Development Programme, along with the Australian Government
contributed 172 million pesos to the RAPID or Resilience and Preparedness towards Inclusiveness
Development program for typhoon affected areas. This presence is established in about 12 Local
Government Units in the Eastern Visayas Area.[41]
Disaster Response and Recovery
In one of the country’s most dire time of need, the UN along with its network for humanitarian
organizations banded together in order to aid the country in the sectors of Health, Shelter, Nutrition,
and Economic Activity. According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the total
funds donated reached about $469 million.[42]
Health
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has addressed the issue of Infant and
Maternal Mortality in the Philippines by allocating a number of birth attendant and maternal facilities
to the country. Due to this, the number of health facilities in more rural areas as well as birthing
centers has increased, especially in more remote areas such as Sarangani and Eastern Samar.
Aside from this, the same organization also assists the efforts of the Department of Health when it
comes to preventing diseases with vaccines in especially high-risk areas in the Mindanao area and
the Cordillera Regions.[43]
Education
UNICEF also assists in the Government’s program that promotes a universal kindergarten called
The Early Childhood Care and Development Program. The program is deployed in vulnerable areas
that are subject to poverty, conflict or natural disasters such as Mountain Province, Masbate,
Eastern Samar, North Cotobato, Sarangani, Davao, Maguindanao, and Manila. Other than
kindergartens, UNICEF also has a hand in establishing more child-friendly models and practices to
be followed by more than 5.3 thousand primary schools and 61 high schools as well as contributions
to education policies drafted by the Department of Education (DepEd).[44]
Peace and Security
During the dispute between the Philippines and China for the West Philippine Sea (South China
Sea), the arbitral tribunal, at the request of the country upheld the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea which dictates exclusive rights to utilize the seas within 200 nautical miles in
whatever way they see fit.[45][46