Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) National President and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua has been re-elected as president of the United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) during the organization’s 10th Congress held in Goyang Special City, Republic of Korea.
Cua, who is also the National Chairman of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, will have his term as UCLG ASPAC president from 2025 to 2027, marking his second consecutive mandate as head of the largest regional section of UCLG. He is the first Filipino to hold this position.
The election took place at the UCLG ASPAC General Assembly, which gathered local government leaders from across 22 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Under Gov. Cua’s leadership, UCLG ASPAC will continue to promote initiatives aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in building sustainable, self-sufficient cities and regions for the future.
UCLG ASPAC represents more than 220 member cities, local governments, and associations, serving as the voice of local authorities in promoting decentralization, sustainable development, and inter-city cooperation.
In his remarks following his re-election, Cua expressed gratitude for the renewed trust of the members. “This is not a personal victory, but a reaffirmation of our collective resolve to strengthen the role of local governments in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future. As I always say, the future is local and, therefore, it is our responsibility to make that local future real through solidarity, innovation, and action,” he said.
As UCLG ASPAC president, Gov. Cua vows to continue fostering collaboration among local governments, with emphasis on sustainability, resilience, and inclusive growth. He highlighted the importance of deepening partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region, noting that global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and inequality require strong local leadership and cross-border cooperation.
The Philippine delegation to the Congress was composed of Governors Santiago Cane, Jr. (Agusan del Sur) and Jake Villa (Siquijor), Mayors Marvey Mariño (Batangas City), Jose Carlos Cari (Baybay City, Leyte), Almedzar Hajiri (Lugus, Sulu), and JR Coro (Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte), as well as representatives from Tuguegarao City, Baybay City, and Batangas City.
The delegation also included the League of Provinces of the Philippines, represented by Mr. Jomar Olegario, and was supported by the ULAP Secretariat led by Executive Director Aileen Leycano.
The Philippines, through ULAP, plays a key role in advancing the UCLG ASPAC agenda.
Under Gov. Cua’s leadership, UCLG ASPAC will continue to promote initiatives aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in building sustainable, self-sufficient cities and regions for the future.
