EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
‘©K'Cf “ f ‘Of t '  -crrtarp
S E N A T E  
S. N o .___ 6 5
'19 
JUL -1 
PI 41
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 o f Internal Migration in Philippines1, 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 provide 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 
Sustainable Development Agenda is committed to integrate the Sustainable 
Development Goals into our national development plans and policies. One of these 
goals is to "make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and 
sustainable" (SDG l l ) 2.
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 
Goal 
11. 
Retrieved 
from 
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgll


This bill seeks to fulfil our international obligations with regard to Sustainable 
Development Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Agenda, 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.
W AS. CAYEIANO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
‘ 
of tl)f » rrrfia rp
S E N A T E
•19 
JUL-1 
P r-4 1
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 o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as "Sustainable Cities and 
Communities Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  The 1987 Constitution mandates the 
undertaking of a program of urban land reform and housing which will make decent 
housing and basic services available at affordable cost to underprivileged and 
homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlements areas, and ensure the 
availability of employment opportunities for them.
Pursuant thereto, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to make cities 
safe and sustainable by ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, and 
upgrading slum settlements.
The State shall likewise invest in public transport, create green public spaces, 
and improve urban planning and management in a way that is both participatory 
and inclusive.
Sec. 3. Mode! for Sustainable Cities and Communities. -  Existing cities and 
communities shall transition into sustainable cities and communities. A sustainable 
city or community shall have the following:
(a) 
Affordable housing;
(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
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other 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
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scooters, 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) Energy efficient homes;
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(k) Strong community linkages to deal with issues such as peace and
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order; and
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(I) 
Access to sports and cultural activities.
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Sec. 4. Indicators. -  The National Economic and Development Authority
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(NEDA) shall set targets based on the following indicators, taking into consideration
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Goal No. 11 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, to determine if
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a city or community has fully transitioned into a sustainable city or community:
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(a) Urban population living in slums -measured in terms of proportion of
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urban population 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,
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age and persons with disabilities;
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(c) Sustainable 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
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cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban
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planning and management that operate regularly and democratically;


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(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 pollution - 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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Local disaster risk management -measured in terms of adoption and 
implementation of local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with 
national disaster risk reduction strategies; and


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(o) 
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. Support from National Government. -  The Department of Interior and
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Local Government (DILG) shall provide the necessary technical assistance and
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resource augmentation to LGUs to assist them in transitioning into sustainable cities
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and communities.
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The NEDA and other related agencies are also hereby mandated to extend
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the 
necessary 
support 
and 
provide 
relevant 
input 
towards 
the 
effective
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implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 6. Incentives for Transitioning into Sustainable Cities or Communities. -
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The DILG shall develop a grant or cash award incentive scheme for LGUs that are
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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. 7. 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. 8. Separability Clause. -  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. 9. Repealing Clause. -  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. 10. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its
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publication in the Official Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,