SUSTAINABILITY is no longer an optional goal for Philippine cities and municipalities. It is increasingly a condition for survival, resilience and economic growth.
This was the central message at The Manila Times 7th Philippine Model Cities and Municipalities Awards and Forum, held on Sept. 24 at The Manila Hotel. With the theme “More than resilience: Environmental communities cultivating first-world economies,” the event recognized local governments working to make their communities safer, more inclusive and better prepared for the future.
The forum drew a record 60 entries, the highest number since the awards began in 2017. The Manila Times Chief Executive Officer Anna Marie Ang-Thompson said the participation reflected a pressing reality: “Sustainability is now a survival requirement.”
For President and Chief Operating Officer Blanca Mercado, the awards have evolved alongside the changing responsibilities of local governments.
“When we started the awards in 2017, the idea was simple: to recognize local governments that were doing more than simply managing their communities,” Mercado said. “We wanted to look at how cities were planning, how they were responding to their people’s needs and how they were preparing for the future.”
She added that sustainability now extends beyond governance and policy to include technology, finance, food security and safe spaces for communities.
In her message, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Assistant Secretary Noralene Uy, PhD, emphasized the critical role of cities and municipalities in translating national environmental policies into local action.
Local governments, she said, are at the frontline of addressing climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and the pressures of urbanization. Their decisions on land use, infrastructure, waste management and public services can determine whether development becomes resilient and environmentally responsible.
Uy stressed that environmental protection and economic development should not be treated as competing priorities. Instead, conservation and development must work together to produce nature-positive outcomes and strengthen local economies.
Solid-waste management remains one of the most immediate challenges for local governments. As of June 2026, 1,460 of the country’s 1,592 local government units (LGUs) had approved 10-year solid-waste management plans. Some 25,048 barangay (villages) were served by materials recovery facilities, while 805 cities and municipalities had access to sanitary landfill facilities.
The figures show progress but also the continuing scale of the challenge. Uy noted that the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act is now in its 25th year of implementation, creating an opportunity to improve enforcement and consider appropriate technologies, including waste-to-energy systems.
Solutions to priorities
The DENR is also advancing the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, which seeks to reduce plastic waste and strengthen producer accountability. For local governments, these initiatives can support a circular economy in which waste reduction, recycling and resource recovery generate cleaner communities, green jobs and new enterprises.
Water security is another priority. Through the Integrated Water Resources Management Plan, the DENR is working to improve coordination, balance water supply and demand, and integrate flood and disaster management. Alternative water sources, including rainwater harvesting, filtration systems, desalination and other local solutions, can help communities respond to shortages and climate-related disruptions.
The DENR is promoting nature-based solutions (NbS) as part of local development. Wetlands, urban forests, waterways and green spaces can complement conventional infrastructure by reducing flooding, lessening urban heat and improving public health.
Through Administrative Order 2026-30, the department adopted the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, providing a framework for integrating ecosystems into environmental management and climate adaptation.
Uy also cited the importance of geohazard mapping and vulnerability assessments in local planning. The DENR has assessed 227 cities and municipalities for geohazard risks, 72 for ground subsidence and karst features, and 389 coastal cities and municipalities for physical vulnerability.
These assessments can help local governments make better decisions about homes, roads, schools, and other critical facilities.
The Philippines’ updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0 targets a 75 percent reduction or avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. For this commitment to succeed, national goals must be reflected in local land-use plans, budgets and investment programs.
The DENR’s Forests for Life Program likewise aims to establish at least 5 million trees by 2028, with projected cumulative carbon sequestration of 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, while supporting biodiversity and community livelihoods.
The forum highlighted a broader definition of progress. A model city or municipality is not measured only by infrastructure or economic activity, but also by how well it protects natural resources, prepares for hazards, supports livelihoods, and improves daily life.
As Uy noted, local governments provide the vital connection between national priorities and local realities. Their success will help determine whether the Philippines can build economies that are not only productive but also resilient, inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
