05 September 2016— The Philippines called for “better, greener, smarter cities” at the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the UN Habitat III Conference, held on July 25 to 27 in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The meeting was held in preparation for the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, which will take place in Quito, Ecuador from October 17 to 20. The Conference, which is held every 20 years, is intended to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable urban development, assess accomplishments to date, address poverty and identify and address new and emerging challenges.

Speaking during the plenary debate, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Lumen B. Isleta announced the completion of the Philippines’ National Report on its implementation of its commitments under the Habitat Agenda of Istanbul in 1996, which was a global plan of action for adequate shelter for all.

Ambassador Isleta emphasized that “sustainable urban development will only be possible and meaningful if its gains are felt by the most vulnerable and marginalized. Hence, they have to be empowered as partners and active participants in an all-of-society approach to urban development.”

The National Report, entitled “Better, Greener, Smarter Cities in an Inclusive Philippines,” was the result of a 2-year extensive consultation process which brought together stakeholders from government agencies and local authorities, the academe, private sector, civil society and peoples’ organizations. 

While highlighting the Philippines’ achievements, the Report also noted challenges faced, such as harnessing the country’s demographic dividend by education and skills development, providing local government units with strengthened urban information databases, incorporating climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management in land use and urban planning, increasing social mobility and inclusion, waste and pollution management, and building empowered, prepared, and well-informed urban communities.

The Philippine Delegation to Prepcom 3 was led by the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, Ambassador Lourdes O. Yparraguirre, and included Ambassador Isleta, Commissioner Linda Hornilla of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), and representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs,  Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Economic and Development Authority, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Commission on Population.

Delegations at Prepcom 3 also worked on the “New Urban Agenda,” the outcome document of Habitat III. The negotiations were co-chaired by Ambassador Yparraguirre with Mr. Damaso Luna Corona of Mexico and resulted in the Surabaya Draft, which will be the basis of the next round of informal negotiations in New York to be held on September 7 to 9. END