Published: 13 July 2023
COA Director Adela Dondonilla (4th from right, front row), Chairperson of the 63rd Session of the Committee for Programme and Coordination, joins representatives from the Member States and Observer States during the closing ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. (Photo Credit: New York PM)
Commission on Audit (COA) Director Adela L. Dondonilla, representing the Philippines, successfully chaired the 63rd session of the United Nations (UN) Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC 63) which concluded on 30 June 2023.
Director Dondonilla successfully steered the session, reviewing 28 programmes of the UN Secretary General (SG) proposed for Programme Budget in 2024 and adopting 18 programme plans out of 28. Despite the challenging geopolitical situation, she was able to usher the Committee to collaborate with all delegations in achieving desirable outcomes leading to the adoption of 18 programme plans designed to provide the Member States’ guidance to the UN Secretariat.
“I am grateful for the support of the Philippine Mission to the UN and the leadership of the Commission on Audit whose insights served me well in this endeavor. The success of this session was due to the hard work, commitment and cooperation of all the members,” Director Dondonilla said.
A Facebook post from the Philippine Mission to the UN observed that “several delegations noted the significance of the Philippine chairmanship as CPC 63 is the first CPC session after the UN General Assembly decided at its 77th main session on 30 December 2022 to permanently lift the trial period of the UN annual budget cycle.” The Permanent Mission said this initiative will bring “a certain degree of stability and predictability on the implementation of the programs, thus facilitating related processes at the UN.”
The Philippine Mission said the work of the UN CPC is valuable in operationalizing the Philippines’ priorities and promoting its interests in the areas of Legal affairs (within the context of UNCLOS); Peacekeeping Operations; Economic and Social Affairs; Human rights and Migration; International Drug Control and Crime and Terrorism Prevention and Criminal Justice; International Protection, Durable Solutions and Assistance to Refugees; and Humanitarian Assistance, among others.
The Philippines will continue to lead discussions and participate in the CPC for the next two years. There are currently 34 Member States represented in the Committee and seven Observer States.
The CPC is the main subsidiary organ of the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly for planning, programming and coordination in the UN. It is tasked to examine the Secretary General’s work program as a whole, giving particular focus on program changes arising from the decisions adopted by intergovernmental organs and conferences, or those that may be suggested by the Secretary General. #