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Over 1,000 participants join 1st PH Urban Forum

Various sectoral representatives gather together to facilitate transformative urban governance during the 2023 Philippine Urban Forum. (Photo Courtesy: DHSUD)


QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Some 1,303 representatives from the national and local government, civil society organizations, private sector, and international community shared a venue to bring about sustainable urban transformation during the first Philippine Urban Forum (PhUF) held from October 5 to 6 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. 

The PhUF is an initiative organized by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) together with the UN Habitat Philippines to provide a platform for constructive sectoral dialogues, assemblies, and training events towards offering positive solutions to the prevailing challenges that confront the country in terms of urbanization. 

Housing czar Jose Rizalino Acuzar delivers a message during the opening of the first Philippine Urban Forum at the Philippine International Convention Center (Photo Courtesy: DHSUD)

“Kaya andito tayo ngayon, mga kinatawan mula sa pamahalaan at pribadong sektor, mga kabataan, kababaihan, urban poor… upang sa gayon ay matiyak natin [ang] ating babalangkasin [na] mga plano at urban development programs ay people-centered, inclusive at responsive sa ating pangangailangan at prayoridad (We are gathered here today, representatives from the government and private sector, youth, women, and urban poor, to ensure that the urban development plans and programs we will create are people-centered, inclusive, and responsive to our needs and priorities),” said Housing Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar during the opening ceremony of the 2023 PhUF. 

UN Habitat Philippines Country Manager Christopher Rollo also graces the event. (Photo Courtesy: DHSUD)

“I’m still overwhelmed with the participation that you have shown in the forum. The bar started high in this first Philippine Urban Forum,” said UN Habitat Philippines Country Programme Manager Christopher Rollo. 

In particular, the insights and inferences stemming from the knowledge exchange between the PhUF stakeholders will serve as an additional anchor point of the Philippine New Urban Agenda which underpins the implementation of science-based policies in the urban development sector. 

Meanwhile, the PhUF also staged an urban exhibit featuring the sustainability initiatives of different sectors at the forefront of climate resiliency action programs. 

Urban exhibit during the Philippine Urban Forum. (Photo Courtesy: DHSUD)

Among the exhibit booth displays include the urban mobility projects of the Mobility Awards which is a collective movement that calls for the establishment of walkable cities and the promotion of environmentally-sound modes of transportation to ensure that the country’s urban governance is interconnected and caters to the needs of the disadvantaged. 

The culmination of the multi-stakeholder forum centered on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the DHSUD and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to formalize partnership for the Development of Integrated Systems to Support the Automation of Land Use and Human Settlements Planning. 

The above stated joint initiative aims to assist local government units in crafting data-driven and risk-based sustainability measures through the DHSUD’s PLANADO Program and DOST’s PlanSmart Ready to Rebuild application. 

Further, the sectoral representatives likewise expressed their statement of support for the 2023 Manila Urban Declaration, fostering an integrated commitment to sustainable urbanization. 

The conduct of the PhUF 2023 forms part of the National Shelter Month celebration. (PIA-NCR) 

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Janna Marie Pineda

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NCR

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