Your role in building sustainable cities

By aiming for sustainable and healthy communities, we can ensure a bright future for generations of Filipinos. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Nowadays, morale seems to be running low in our country.

Recent corruption scandals have made people increasingly wary and cynical of large-scale institutions. While we still dream of a better life here at home, many are losing hope because of systems that have failed us.

Before you make plans to migrate, however, consider this: our neighbor Singapore was once regarded as a corrupt and poverty-stricken nation. Yet through the collective effort of its people and leaders, it transformed into the powerhouse it is today. Things might be hard now, but there is hope.

To take our reflections further, let us ask ourselves: what can we do to help make our country better? More specifically, what can we contribute to make our cities more livable and sustainable for future generations?

If you’re feeling stumped, Project Everyone—a United Nations (UN) Global Partner and non-profit organization—just might have the answer.

The UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development is a widespread initiative that aim to improve lives across the world.

The global goals

In 2015, UN member countries agreed to work together to meet 17 global goals in relation to sustainability, poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.

These goals include zero hunger, good health and well-being, clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, to name a few. Project Everyone was formed to ensure that these goals are spread across the globe through various communication sectors.

Unfortunately, due to external factors such as COVID-19 and conflicts between nations, only 18 percent of these goals have been met.

Despite the setbacks, we can all still strive for a better tomorrow. While large-scale activities such as urban planning initiatives and campaigns remain in the hands of our leaders, we can still help propel the movement by doing our share as ordinary Filipinos.

Despite all recent revelations, there remains hope in our communities for a better tomorrow.

How collaborations lead to success

The growth of a city lies in the hands of everyone—the government, private companies, and local communities.

Leaders are in the position to drive infrastructure projects and develop public services. Private businesses usually help by contributing assets such as manpower, funds or equipment to the initiative.

Everyone, however, has a part in propelling the growth of a city through their small decisions and day-to-day habits

Let us all do our share in nation-building.

What we can do

The most active way we can participate in nation-building is by joining a group that proactively promotes changes and organizes activities.

You can do this by becoming a volunteer or making a donation. Beyond this, however, there are small but significant actions that we can do in our daily lives to improve our surroundings.

To promote good health and well-being, for example, you should vaccinate yourself and the rest of your family from common diseases. This gives you and the rest of the community protection and peace of mind.

To support decent work and economic growth, meanwhile, buy from local producers. By supporting local businesses, you can help boost the demand for local products and lower the need for imported goods. Plus, buying local often translates to more affordable and fresher services and products.

To encourage the development of sustainable cities and communities, travel sustainably. Use a bike, walk or take public transportation. This reduces greenhouse emissions and overall traffic.

To help develop safe housing, volunteer in socio-civic activities that fix slums, create public spaces or clean up existing neighborhoods. When you use public facilities such as playgrounds, parks and sports centers, remember to take care of the items to make sure that they last.

Driving toward a common goal

Perhaps all the recent revelations, however negative, are exactly what we need to wake up.

Let us do our part in saving the Philippines for future generations. Our actions, however small, contribute to the development of our country. It is up to us if we would choose to give up or strive to make things better. However difficult, our decisions today will determine the state of Filipinos in the future.

Sources: https://globalgoals.org; https://project-everyone.org; Juniani Gonçalves , Akil Mazumder, Anna Shvets, and Mikhail Nilov via Pexels.com

Ar. Vittoria Mawis-Aliston

A Filipino architect who has a Master's Degree in Interior Design of Commercial Spaces from IED Barcelona, Spain and with twelve years' worth of experience under the tutelage of Filipino architectural firms.