Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities

By: Jared Ryan Almazan

by: Ma. Eleanor A. Cudiamat

 There’s a saying that “Honesty is the Best Policy”. Telling the truth is always the best course of action. If you tell the truth then it only prove that you’re a trustworthy person that others can rely on you. 

In Batanes, there’s an Honesty store. This store does not have a salesperson to watch every person who enter and go out to the store. If you’re going to pay the things that you buy, you can just put your payment into the box that has been provided. This store is very popular because of the uniqueness of the store and it also promotes honesty among the people who visits the store and to the people in Batanes. Having this kind of store can make the place safe and quite. 

BY JUWON KIM

 Working conditions in the Philippines are closely related to one's social class. Those belonging to the upper class enjoy the best opportunities for job satisfaction, facilities, advancement, and choice of career. Those from the middle class are usually able to land white-collar jobs with some room for advancement by capitalizing on education, company loyalty, and hard work. Those belonging to the lower class, due to their lack of education or capital, largely engage in poorly paid manual labor or blue-collar jobs, viewed as menial in Philippine society.

by:raszy abelao

Add smoke-belching vehicles to the mix and you have one truly stinking brew. Despite the Clean Air Act, ill-maintained jeepneys and taxis and decade-old buses still rampage in the streets of our highly-urbanized cities.

No wonder the country spends P7 billion annually treating pollution-caused illnesses. According to the health department, more than half of medicines sold in Metro Manila is for upper respiratory diseases.

The solution to air pollution is a problem as hard to capture as the element itself.

As air dissipates quickly, moves from one place to another and escapes from the tightest of grips, the solution to air pollution remains elusive, almost abstract in its complexity.

The Clean Air Act is almost 15 years old yet healthy air is still beyond our reach.

by juwon kim

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order providing funds and support for modern family planning, in a bid to make modern family planning available to the poor by 2018.

"This Order aims to intensify and accelerate the implementation of critical actions necessary to attain and sustain 'zero unmet need for modern family planning' for all poor households by 2018," reads Executive Order No. 12, signed by Duterte on January 9 and released on Wednesday.

"There is a plan in the next six months for local governments to go out in the field, to do house-to-house visits, identify those in need of family planning, [and work] with all these agencies," National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ernesto Pernia said in a press briefing Wednesday. 

This article mentioned  that The government hopes to reduce poverty to 13 percent by the end of Duterte's six-year term in 2022.

By Mika Mae Battung

Sustainable development of a community must be environmentally and economically stable to lessen poverty in the area and build something and meet the needs and demands of the present and future generations. With the adequate resources and thorough plan and proper allocation will bring long-term benefits for people and the whole community.

One can probably say that a community is sustainable one when this area is filled or has bank recognized in the country– not just rural banks. Because I believed that these banks will not put up when there's nothing or no one will invest in the first place. This only means that the community has a potential or booming for them to consider building their banks in that area.

by: Ma. Eleanor A. Cudiamat

Segregating our wastes can help us in many ways. It can reduce the space that can be occupied, air and water pollution rates can be lowered. 

Here in Baguio, every barangay has an ordinance in accordance to waste segregation. The “No Segregation, No Collection” of waste is strictly followed. We can only disposed our waste once a week during the designated day and area between 5 a.m to 7 a.m. 

BY: Raszy Abelao

Laguna Water’s corporate practices are aligned with the triple bottom line business principle which measures the company’s commercial success, not only in terms of profit, but most importantly, on its positive impacts on people and the planet.

This sustainable business model is vividly stated and further elaborated in Laguna Water’s vision: “to provide the Province of Laguna with water and other environmental services which will empower people, protect the environment, and enhance sustainable development.”

By Juwon Kim

The project supports the government’s Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA) designed to help improve the quality and equity of basic education in the Philippines. Key policy and systems reforms are showing good results: from 2005 to 2013, the elementary participation rate increased from 88.58% to 95.24% with enrollment also increasing from 13 million to 14.4 million. National Achievement Test Scores (Grade 6) also showed improvement in all subjects.

Compare to Korea, some Philippine’s teenagers especially who are undergoing or suffering the poverty or considered as low status level are not having right to have basic education. It must not be happened in Korea because of the law which is children must be educated at least middle school. 

by: Ma. Eleanor A. Cudiamat

We are living in a democratic country and voting is very essential. If we want a change, we should start it in ourselves. We should be wise to pick who will be our leader. We are responsible for our future. Your decision depends how your life will be. Voting is not only our right but it’s also our responsibility.

Suffrage is the human right to vote, for the Philippines, is indicated in three documents: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the 1987 Constitution. They all call for universality of the right; equality in access of public service; and secrecy of votes. As a voter, you are entitled to free and informed choice of whom to vote. The Constitution guarantees us that we are a sovereign people, where all government authority comes from.

In my school, we just recently conducted an election, where we chose who will be the next student leader who will fight and defend their co-students. As being part of my university, I am entitled to choose whom I want to vote. I’ll always practice my right to select my leader because I believe that my vote can make a change.

If you want a change then start it with yourself. Practice your right of suffrage.  Be wise to choose your leaders. Your decision is responsible for what the change we will be facing.

SUSTAINABILITY AT  BINONDO CHINA TOWN

BY: Raszy Abelao

Located in Binondo is Philippine's own China Town. Consists of mostly old architectural structures. Unlike it's glorious days more than 50 years ago, lots of old architectures and attractions were not maintained. Streets are quite dirty and smelly. We went there exactly on the Chinese Lunar New Year, so it was definitely crowded. Despite the not-so-good side of visiting Binondo, this location is definitely perfect for those lovers of Chinese cuisine or simply food enthusiasts. Lots of Chinese restaurants and stalls could be found there. You can also visit the nearby Divisoria, if you are into shopping and you have a great power of huggling.

by JUWON KIM

The Project was consistent with the government policy of addressing gender and maternal health issues as indicated in the Millennium Development Goals, and it correctly identified the critical need to improve the quality and coverage of maternal health services. Selected 550 hospitals and rural health facilities in 41 provinces were upgraded and were provided with general reproductive and emergency obstetric medical supplies. The Project strengthened the capacity of the Department of Health in the planning and management of women's health projects and in linking the various components of health services. It also contributed to strengthening the institutional capacity within the department for more effective management of donor-funded projects. Overall, the project is rated partly successful.