TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

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AR 452- ARCH42S4- PLANNING 3:

INTRODUCTION TO URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING

ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT

ASSIGNMENT 3.1. REACTION PAPER

SUBMITTED BY:
GARRY MAE M. ALCERA

SUBMITTED TO:
AR. EDUARDO F. BOBER JR.

March 30, 2022

 Cities are an intrinsic component of nearly all traditional development aims, yet
for a variety of reasons urban policy has rarely been seen as a tool in itself to either
tackle the negatives of urban areas or leverage their positives. The MDGs, for instance,
had only one urban-specific objective — to see a “significant improvement” in the lives
of at least 100 million slum dwellers. And that, too, was a target subsumed under the
broader goal of environmental sustainability. For the first time, SDG 11 will now allow
policymakers, planners, civil society and the development community to see cities
themselves, physical spaces with a host of their own well-integrated systems , as a tool
by which to achieve anti-poverty and sustainability aims. Importantly, the goal could also
see a reappraisal of the key role played by mayors and other local officials in these
critical national processes, too. SDG 11 is tackled as a significant element to the system
of a city or urban area where it targets to cover the traditional concerns around housing,
slums, transportation and more. Yet it also deals with a host of environmental and
climate-related issues, including air quality, waste management, resilience, and
preparedness around natural disasters. The goal even touches on innovative and
unprecedented aims around cultural and natural heritage as well as green and public
space. Urbanization is now being formally seen as a potent, and similarly urgent,
component of both anti-poverty and sustainability efforts. As a result, cities and human
settlements make up the sole focus of SDG 11, to make cities and human settlements
inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

One of my reaction about it is SDG11 really serves what must be done in order to
regulate urbanization of a city, bring solution to different urban issues and concerns
such as poverty, sanitation, housing, slums, transportation and environmental and
climate related issues as the population increases in urbanized area. More than half of
the world’s population now live in urban areas, and that proportion is expected to rise to
more than two-thirds just by the middle of this century. Further, while cities are the clear
economic engines for nearly all countries, they also produce almost three-quarters of all
greenhouse gases. And with the goal of SDG11 formulating solutions to this emerging
concerns and issues of the world would probably make urbanized areas more
systematic, organized, productive and efficient and happier place to live in.
 I also learned that urban areas are vital to a country's economy, serving as the
main engine for a country's inventive growth. Having sustainable development goals is a
huge aid and contribution in the long run, and future generations will undoubtedly
benefit. And, unfortunately, as the world's population grows, more people face hunger,
unemployment, and poverty, while environmental challenges such as climate change
intensify. As an aspiring architect, this topic piqued my attention as a way to expand my
understanding of urban planning.

To sum up, I strongly encourage you to read "The Opportunities of the Urban
SDG" by Carey L. Biron and Gregory Scruggs; it will undoubtedly serve as an eye
opener to the urban issues we face today, particularly for those interested in urban
planning who want to make a difference, plan for change, and make cities a better place
to live.