FEBIE VALLENE I.

DIMARUCUT
GESTS01X – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY (ARC203)

Instructions:

After learning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) choose one topic from among the 17 goals and
give your assessment as to the STATUS INDICATORS OF SUCCESS OR DEVELOPMENT and what the
GOVERNMENT, CIVIL SOCIETY and INDIVIDUAL can contribute to improvement and achieve the said
goal. Format of your answer will be:

A. (1) Choose a SPECIFIC SDG GOAL

Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

B. PHILIPPINE PRESENT STATUS RELATED TO YOUR SELECTED SDG

The Philippines struggles to make communities safer and more inclusive. A considerable number of
the population in the country do not have access to decent housing, with 7.53% of urban residents
being informal settlers in 2016. The country needs to make bolder moves in creating healthy and
sustainable cities given that only 47% of major urban centers in the county follow ambient air
quality guidelines. Concrete steps are being undertaken, however, in building resilient communities
through the adoption and implementation of synergized national and local disaster risk reduction
strategies.
(Source: https://think-asia.org/bitstream/handle/11540/11359/pidsdps1910.pdf?sequence=1)

Based on the Philippine SDG 2020 Pace of Progress, one of the most observed progress in SDGs is on
sustainable cities and communities (SDG11). However, it does not mean that adequate progress is
attained given that in the current status index, 40% is only achieved which is below the average.
Inequalities among and within nations still exist on access to benefits associated with infrastructural
and urban developments.

C. INDICATORS OF SUCCESS OR DEVELOPMENT (if there's any)

11.1.1 Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate
housing
11.2.1 Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and
persons with disabilities
11.3.1 Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate
11.3.2 Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning
and management that operate regularly and democratically
11.4.1 Total per capita expenditure on the preservation, protection and conservation of all
cultural and natural heritage, by source of funding (public, private), type of heritage (cultural,
natural) and level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal)
11.5.1 Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters
per 100,000 population
11.5.2 Direct economic loss in relation to global GDP, damage to critical infrastructure and
number of disruptions to basic services, attributed to disasters
11.6.1 Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of
total municipal waste generated, by cities
11.6.2 Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population
weighted)
11.7.1 Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex,
age and persons with disabilities
11.7.2 Proportion of persons victim of physical or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability
status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months
11.a.1 Number of countries that have national urban policies or regional development plans that
(a) respond to population dynamics;
(b) ensure balanced territorial development; and
(c) increase local fiscal space
11.b.1 Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies
in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
 11.b.2 Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction
strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

D. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE (National and Local)

Regional Resettlement Program

This involves the implementation of local/regional resettlement projects as joint National

Government-Local Government undertakings.

It addresses resettlement requirements of Local Government Units (LGUs) outside Metro Manila
involving families living along danger areas, those affected by government infrastructure
projects, indigenous peoples, and former rebels.

For Informal Setter Families Affected by Infrastructure Project and those Living Along Danger
Areas

The program addresses the requirements of families affected by government infrastructure

projects and those living along danger areas.

It entails the provision of housing units, community facilities, socio-economic and other
community support programs.

Housing Assistance for Calamity Victims

The program is intended to respond to the housing need of low and marginal-income and/or
informal settler families for permanent shelter affected by calamities such as typhoons,
landslides, earthquake, and fires for relocation to safe areas.
(Source: https://nha.gov.ph/programs/)

A more integrative approach that accounts for the comprehensive interconnectedness of the
SDGs must be implemented. In a country hampered by a lack of continuity in long-term
policymaking and conflicting agendas among different government units, collaboration is a must
to ensure inclusive, coherent approaches and an efficient use of resources towards
sustainability.

Sustainable development must also be spurred in regions aside from Metro Manila, and Central
and Southern Luzon. While the current administration has invested in infrastructure
development to enhance connectivity between regions, it must be accompanied by policy
reforms to strengthen local governance and improve synergy between local and national
government units. A change not in the form of government, but in the culture of governance
towards something more inclusive and consistent at the national and local levels is necessary.
 To gain a more accurate assessment of the country’s progress to 2030, the production and
collection of disaggregated data for SDG targets and indicators must be improved.
Strengthening evidence-based policymaking is much needed in a country that has gained
notoriety for ignoring science-based approaches and making questionable decisions in some
aspects and levels of governance. (Source: https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/opinion-is-
philippines-on-track-sustainable-development)

E. WHAT THE CIVIL SOCIETY HAS DONE (Private Sector, Organizations, etc.)

The private sector, for its part, has, over time, made significant strides in helping to augment
the Philippines’ urbanization challenges, particularly in the areas of transport, communication,
property development, and disaster management. Much more needs to be done and I believe
the private sector can still intensify its role in helping to develop more livable communities
within and outside the metropolis that encourages decongestion and improves the standard of
living significantly. (Source: https://asiahouse.org/news-and-views/challenges-opportunities-
urban-development-philippines/)

F. WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE ATTAINMENT OF THE GOAL.

I think on my part since I am still a student, the best option is to learn and be aware of the
current happenings especially pertaining to the issues in urban development. Urban design plays
a vital part not only in the safety of the people but the environment as well. If not managed
well, urbanization can pose risks to health, life, and property and compound natural hazards
that cause disasters. We as individuals should start early on getting involved in the development
of our cities and communities just simply focusing on formulating solutions and practices on
what would be the best approach in providing an efficient yet safe and resilient community. In
addition, not let the government take advantage of its power and decide using their band-aid
and political solutions.

References:

https://sdgcompass.org/sdgs/sdg-11/ https://sdgcompass.org/sdgs/sdg-11/

https://pdp.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PDP-2017-2022-10-03-2017.pdf

https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/opinion-is-philippines-on-track-sustainable-
development https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/opinion-is-philippines-on-track-
sustainable-development

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/Global%20Indicator%20Framework%20after
%202021%20refinement_Eng.pdf

https://think-asia.org/bitstream/handle/11540/11359/pidsdps1910.pdf?sequence=1