NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 18
DATE
BILLS
INDEX
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND 
COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In a study entitled Overview of Internal Migration in Philippines/ it was 
discussed that the urban population in the Philippines has increased by over 50 million 
in the last 50 years. This rapid urban migration resulted from the popular view that 
urban areas offer better opportunities for the rural poor. However, this has instead 
led to the increase in the incidence of urban poverty and inequality, as well as 
homelessness and Informal settlement in our cities.
The Philippines, as one of the countries to adopt the United Nations 2030 
Agenda for Sustainable Development, is committed to integrate the Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs) into our national development plans and policies. One of 
these goals is SDG 11, which aims to "make cities and human settlements inclusive, 
safe, resilient and sustainable"2
During the pandemic, amidst the lockdowns and breakdown in supply chains, 
the importance of a city's self-sufficiency became evident. Cities that produced their
1 Overview of Internal Migration in Philippines" (A policy brief jointly produced by UNESCO, UNDP, lOM,
and 
UN-Habitat).
https;//bangkok.unesco.org/sites/default/files/assets/article/Social%20and%20Human%20Sciences/ 
publications/philippines.pdf
2 
United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goat 11. 
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgll


own essential resources such as food, and those that had readily-accessible 
healthcare, were able to provide for the needs of its residents and focus more on 
addressing the pandemic instead.
This bill, which was originally drafted by the undersigned and first filed in the 
18th Congress, seeks to fulfil our international obligations with regard to the SDGs, 
and address the problems brought about by rapid urban growth, and ensure that the 
development of cities and communities in the country will be geared towards 
sustainability by encouraging and providing the necessary support to local government 
units so that they can transition into sustainable cities and communities.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
PIA S. CAYf TANO^


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S.l^o. 18
DATE
INDEX
BILLS
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND 
COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as 'Sustainable Cities and
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Communities Act"
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The 1987 Constitution mandates the
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undertaking of a program of urban land reform and housing which will make decent
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housing and basic services available at affordable cost to underprivileged and
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homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlements areas, and ensure the availability
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of employment opportunities for them.
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Pursuant thereto, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to make cities
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safe and sustainable by ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, and upgrading
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slum settlements.
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The State shall likewise invest in public transport, create green public spaces,
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and improve urban planning and management in a way that is both participatory and
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inclusive.
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Sec. 3. Mode! for Sustainable Cities and Communities. - All cities and
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communities shall transition into sustainable cities and communities. A sustainable
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city or community shall have the following:
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a. 
Affordable housing;
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b. 
Accessible healthcare services and facilities;


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c. 
Accessible social services to all, especially the vulnerable and
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disadvantaged;
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d. 
Child care facilities, youth centers, centers for senior citizens and other
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sectors;
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e. 
Efficient, accessible, and affordable public transport system;
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f. 
Alternative means of getting from one place to another, other than
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private and public vehicles, such as by walking, biking, using scooters,
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and other eco-friendly and non-motorized modes;
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g. 
Safe, accessible, and enjoyable areas of open space;
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h. 
Preference for use of renewable resources;
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i. 
Waste management system, where waste is recycled, wherever
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possible;
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j. 
Capacity for iocal food production, through but not limited to urban
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farming and the creation of community gardens;
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k. 
Energy efficient homes;
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Strong community linkages to deal with issues such as peace and
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order; and
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m. 
Access to sports and cultural activities.
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Sec. 4. Indicators. - The National Economic and Development Authority
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(NEDA), taking into consideration SDG 11 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for
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Sustainable Development, shall set targets based on the following indicators to
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determine if a city or community has fully transitioned into a sustainable city or
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community:
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a. 
Urban population living in slums - measured in terms of proportion of
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urban popuiation living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate
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housing;
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b. 
Public transport access - measured in terms of proportion of
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population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age
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and persons with disabilities;
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c. 
Sustainabie urbanization rates - measured in terms of ratio of land
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consumption rate to population growth rate;


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d. 
Urban planning management - measured in terms of proportion of 
cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban 
planning and management that operate regularly and democratically;
e. 
Protecting cultural heritage - measured in terms of total public and 
private expenditure per capita spent on the preservation, protection 
and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage;
f. 
Deaths and injuries from natural disasters - measured in terms of 
number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons 
attributed to disasters per 100,000 population;
g. 
Economic losses from natural disasters - measured in terms of direct 
economic loss in relation to global GDP, damage to critical 
infrastructure and number of disruptions to basic services, attributed 
to disasters;
h. 
Solid waste management - measured in terms of proportion of urban 
solid waste regularly collected and with adequate final discharge out 
of total urban solid waste generated;
i. 
Urban air poliution - measured in terms of the annual mean levels of 
fine particulate matter;
j. 
Open spaces in cities - measured in terms of 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;
k. 
Safe spaces in cities - measured in terms of proportion of persons 
victim of physical or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status 
and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months;
l. 
Urban and regional planning - measured in terms of proportion of 
population living in cities that implement urban and regional 
development plans integrating population projections and resource 
needs, by size of city;
m. 
Integrated disaster risk management - measured in terms of adoption 
and implementation of national disaster risk reduction strategies;


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n. Local disaster risk management - measured in terms of adoption and
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implementation of local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with
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national disaster risk reduction strategies; and
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0. Such other targets based on indicators to be determined by NEDA
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consistent with the model of sustainable cities and communities
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provided in Section 3 of this Act.
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Sec. 5. Planning and Sustainable Development Officer. -
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a. Each city and municipality shall appoint a Planning and Sustainable
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Development Officer, who shall be a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the
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city or municipality where he/she will be appointed, of good moral character,
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a holder of a college degree preferably in urban or environmental planning,
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development studies, economics, public administration, or any related course
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from a recognized college or university, a first grade civil service eligible or its
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equivalent, and must have acquired at least five (5) years' experience in
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development planning or in any related field.
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b. The Planning and Sustainable Development Officer shall take charge of the
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Planning and Sustainable Development Office, and shall:
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i. Formulate integrated economic, social, physical, and other development
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plans and policies for consideration of the city or municipality that will
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detail their transition to sustainability, taking into account the qualities
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for a model sustainable city or community provided in Section 3, and
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the indicators provided in Section 4 of this Act;
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ii. Ensure that the principles of inclusivity, resiliency and sustainability are
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integrated in local development plans and policies, which shall include
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the review and adoption of policies that seek to achieve the United
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Nations Sustainable Development Goals and other similar targets
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identified by the national government and the people of the city or
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municipality;
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iii. Applying the concept and methodologies of futures thinking, which takes
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a long-term, multi-perspective approach to consider different outcomes,
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conduct continuing studies, research, and training programs necessary


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IV.
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to evolve and innovate plans and programs for implementation, with the 
goal of achieving the city or municipality's desired future;
Integrate and coordinate ail sectoral plans and studies undertaken by 
the different functional groups or agencies;
Monitor and evaluate the implementation of different development 
programs, projects and activities in the city or municipality In accordance 
with the approved development plans;
Prepare comprehensive plans and other development planning 
documents for the consideration of the local development council; 
Analyze the income and expenditure patterns, and formulate and 
recommend fiscal plans and policies for consideration of the finance 
committee of the city or municipality as provided under the Local 
Government Code of 1991, as amended;
Promote people's participation in development planning within the city 
or municipality; and
Exercise supervision and control over the secretariat of the local 
development council.
c. The Planning and Sustainable Development Officer shall also exercise such 
other duties and functions and perform other powers as provided for under the 
Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, and those that are prescribed 
by law or ordinance.
Sec. 6. Support from National Government - The Department of Interior and 
Local Government (DILG) shall provide the necessary technical assistance and 
resource augmentation to LGUs to assist them in transitioning into sustainable cities 
and communities.
The NEDA and other related agencies are also hereby mandated to extend the 
necessary support and provide relevant input towards the effective implementation of 
this Act.
Sec. 7. Incentives for Transitioning into Sustainable Cities or Communities. - 
LGUs shall, as far as practicable, transition existing local government offices and 
facilities to accommodate sustainable infrastructure and more sustainable practices 
such as the use of solar panels, rainwater harvesting, use of sustainable building


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materials, and enhanced ventilation and insulation, among others. New local
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government offices and facilities shall be constructed with a focus on sustainability.
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LCDs shall likewise transition, as far as practicable, to paperless transactions in their
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operations, without compromising the quality and timely delivery of services.
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LCDs shall also encourage private establishments within their jurisdiction,
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through monetary or non-monetary incentives, to transition to and adopt more
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sustainable infrastructure and practices.
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The DILG shall develop a grant or cash award incentive scheme for LGUs that
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are able to achieve their annual targets set by NEDA related to transitioning into
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sustainable cities and communities.
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Sec. 8. Authority to Enter into Contracts and Agreements. - LGUs are hereby
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authorized to enter into contracts or agreements and receive grants, as may be
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necessary for the attainment of the objective of this Act.
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Sec. 9. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be
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affected thereby.
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Sec. 10. Repeating Ciause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
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parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,