United Nations Human Settlements Program - Philippines (UN-HABITAT)
Mission
UN-Habitat is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.
Philippine cities are facing unprecedented demographic, environmental, economic, social and spatial challenges. There has been a phenomenal shift towards urbanization, with 5 out of every 10 Filipinos living in cities, with an estimated 84 per cent of Filipinos expected to reside in urban areas by 2050. This growth is expected to happen not only in the capital Metro Manila but mainly in small and intermediate cities. The consequences of this rapid urbanization will be dramatic.
In many big and small cities in the Philippines, the effects can already be felt: lack of proper housing and growth of slums, inadequate and out-dated infrastructure – be it roads, public transport, water, sanitation, or electricity – families facing poverty and unemployment, safety and crime problems, pollution and health issues, as well as the impacts of natural or man-made disasters and other catastrophes due to the effects of climate change. UN-Habitat recognises that urbanization is an opportunity to address these effects and leave nobody behind.
Voluntary Commitments
The Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) online platform allows stakeholders to inform the public about their work on DRR. The SFVC online platform is a useful toolto know who is doing what and where for the implementation of the Sendai Framework, which could foster potential collaboration among stakeholders. All stakeholders (private sector, civil society organizations, academia, media, local governments, etc.) working on DRR can submit their commitments and report on their progress and deliverables.