An inclusive city is one that adheres to the “principle of growth with equity (UN-Habitat).” At
the core of an inclusive city is people empowerment which means all “regardless
of their economic means, gender, race, ethnicity, or religion” are actively
engaged in the creation and enjoyment of “social, economic, and political opportunities
(UN-Habitat)” in the city. It is founded on the principle that it is through an
empowered citizenry that a “safe, livable environment with affordable and
equitable access to urban services, social services, and livelihood
opportunities (ADB; p.4)” can be sustainably established.
In the Philippines as
presented in its New Urban Agenda, an inclusive city means “it is equitable,
participatory, and provides universal access to quality basic services. It
safeguards children, women, the elderly people, and persons with disability. It
equalizes access to livelihood opportunities. And last but not least, it
facilitates the transformation of informal settler families in the
metropolises, enabling them to live their lives with more pride and dignity (https://hudcc.gov.ph).” It is also
characterized as “better, greener and smarter.” “Better Cities are globally
competitive, economically vibrant, and livable. Greener Cities are
environmentally sustainable, climate resilient, and safe. Smarter Cities are
connected, physically, spatially and digitally” (https://hudcc.gov.ph).
Pillars of an Inclusive
City
According to the World
Bank, the pillars of an inclusive city are spatial, social and economic
inclusions. Spatial inclusion means providing affordable necessities
such as housing, water and sanitation. (https://www.worldbank.org). Social inclusion
means “guaranteeing equal rights and participation of all, including the most
marginalized” (https://www.worldbank.org). And, economic
inclusion which means creating jobs and giving urban residents the
opportunity to enjoy the benefits of economic growth” (https://www.worldbank.org).
Factors
These pillars are given
flesh and blood through policies and programs that consider the following
factors: accessibility, affordability, resilience, and sustainability (ADB:p3).
Accessibility which is the presence of “opportunities for safe, secure
housing and reliable basic services for all individuals and communities” and
“enabling these opportunities within social structures and cultural norms that
may constrain individual or collective access to a service (ADB:p3).” Affordability
in terms of “shelter, services, and transport solutions” both of individual
families as well as the “capacity local and national governments” to deliver
the same (ADB:p3). Resilience which is “the ability to resist, absorb,
recover from, and reorganize in response to natural hazards without
jeopardizing sustained socioeconomic advancement and development (ADB:p3).” Sustainability
which is the capacity of the responsible entity, be it a family or a local or
national government, to service debt, operate, maintain, renew, and/or expand
its shelter or service delivery system and pro-poor infrastructure. Sustainability
also calls for access to the technical, financial, and human support required
for shelter and service delivery through ongoing systems and programs (ADB:p4).”
Mechanisms
An inclusive city is
built on the following mechanisms: (i) joint strategic visions of all
stakeholders through a participatory planning and decision-making process
incorporating universal design, integrated urban planning, transparent
accountability mechanisms, and the use of the city’s inherent assets; (ii)
knowledge and information sharing; (iii) public participation and contribution;
(iv) cross-subsidies, social protection, and gender balance, to ensure an
adequate standard of living to the most economically disadvantaged and
vulnerable population; (v) geographical and social mobility; (vi) business
environment and pro-poor financing services that attract capital investment and
allow everybody the possibility to undertake economic activities; (vii)
resilience to global environmental and socioeconomic shocks an threats; and
(viii) mechanisms to ensure the sustainable use of its resources (ADB:p4).
Government Policies and
Laws that Support Inclusive Urban Development
1.
Adoption
of the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically, Goal 11 which states “make
cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11) and mainstreaming
this to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP);
2.
Adoption
of the UN Habitat III’s New Urban Agenda leading to the formulation of the
Philippines New Urban Agenda with its goals for a Better, Greener, Smarter
Cities in an Inclusive Philippines (https://hudcc.gov.ph) and the National Urban Development and
Housing Framework;
3.
Ambisyon
Natin 2040 which is the overall vision of the country and its people and being
carried out thru the Philippine Development Plan. In a nutshell, Ambisyon Natin
2040 envision for Filipinos to “enjoy a strongly rooted, comfortable, and
secure life” (http://2040.neda.gov.ph).
4.
Social
inclusion programs like the Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCT) or the
Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program, Universal Health Care Program, Free Tertiary
Education Act, Enhanced Basic Education Act, K-12 Act, and Alternative Learning
System (https://hudcc.gov.ph).
5.
Climate
Change Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9729 of 2009) and the Philippine Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121) which mandate for the mainstreaming
of climate change action (CCA) and disaster risk reduction and management
(DRRM) in local development and comprehensive land use planning (https://hudcc.gov.ph).
6.
Urban
Development and Housing Act (UDHA) of 1992 or RA 7279 which empowered the local
government units (LGUs) to address urban development issues, paved the way for
participatory governance, and ensured private sector participation in the
national shelter program through a mandatory requirement to set aside 20% of
all proposed subdivision areas for socialized housing (NUA:p.56)
7.
Passage
of the 1991 Local Government Code (LGC) 1991 which mandates the preparation of a Comprehensive Land Use
Plan (CLUP) and a Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) by local governments (https://hudcc.gov.ph).
To improve urban
governance in their localities, Local Government Units have been implementing
the following:
1.
Localization
of Sustainable Development Goals, Ambisyon Natin 2040, Philippine Development
Plan by mainstreaming these to major and term-based local development plan like
the Comprehensive Development Plan and Comprehensive Land Use Plan and most
especially to the Annual Investment Program which is the basis in the
formulation of the LGU’s Annual Budget (DILG Memo);
2.
Subjecting
the LGU to governance measures like the Local Government Performance Management
System (LGPMS), Public Financial Management System (PFMS) and the Seal of Good
Local Governance (SGLG). These measures the effectiveness and efficiency of
local governance and promote transparency, accountability, financial
management, disaster preparedness, social protection, business friendliness,
peace and order, and environmental management (https://hudcc.gov.ph).
3.
Road
clearing operations to maintain public open spaces (https://www.dilg.gov.ph);
4.
Establishment
of transparency and accountability measures which include the implementation of
an effective Public Financial Management System, posting of financial records at
the DILG’s Full Disclosure Portal and LGUs Bulletin Boards, implement Anti-Red
Tape Act, No-Noontime Break Policy, and Freedom of Information Policy.
5.
Institutionalization
of participatory mechanisms as all Local Special Bodies are mandated to have representatives
from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) coming from the basic sectors like
women, youth, farmers, fisherfolks, senior citizens, etc. Barangays are
mandated to conduct barangay assemblies twice a year (LGC).
Conclusion
The
creation of an inclusive city is a manifestation of a well-managed urban
development. It is holistic and balanced in the sense that all areas of
development are being harmonized including the social, economic and spatial (or
land use) thru an empowered citizenry coming from all social strata as the
driving force. It is the ideal goal of every local government.
In
the Philippines, all plans, policies and programs towards the achievement of creating
inclusive cities are in place. It adopted the Sustainable Development Goals
2030 and UN Habitat III’s New Urban Agenda as expressed in Ambisyon 2040, Philippine
Development Plan, Philippine New Urban Agenda, National Urban and Housing
Development Framework. These plans are then being mainstreamed and localized
thru the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Comprehensive Development Plans and
other term-based plans of the local governments.
In
terms of laws, the Philippines has passed Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729) and
the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121) and
other environmental laws to ensure city’s resilience. It also has enacted Urban
Development and Housing Act (UDHA) of 1992 (RA 7279) and the Local Government
Code of 1991 (RA 7160) to empower local governments thru a system of
decentralization as they address the challenges and demands of urbanization.
The
government has also installed good governance mechanisms to ensure transparency,
accountability and participation like the Seal of Goof Local Governance,
Anti-Red Tape, Full Disclosure Policy, among others.
The Philippines seems to have an ideal
enabling framework for creating inclusive cities, making it happen is the real
big challenge. Prioritization of this framework and having competent
implementors can spell the big difference.
References
Ambisyon Natin 2040. National Economic
Development Authority accessed at http://2040.neda.gov.ph/about-ambisyon-natin-2040/
DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No.
2020-145 accessed at https://www.dilg.gov.ph/issuances/mc/Continuation-of-Road-Clearing-/3286
https://dilg.gov.ph/PDF_File/issuances/memo_circulars/dilg-memocircular-2019515_b8b6e90fef.pdf
Enabling Inclusive Cities. Tool Kit for
Inclusive Urban Development. Asian Development Bank. 2017
Goal 11: Make cities and human
settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. IS Global accessed at https://www.isglobal.org
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