What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
During the celebration of its seventieth anniversary on September 2015, the member states of the United Nations decided on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the new global plan of action. This built on the more focused Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and was intended to include all countries and all aspects that the framework of the MDGs fell short in, like environmental sustainability and social inequalities, to name a few. The SDGs were formally declared in the document entitled “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” or simply the 2030 Agenda. It has a total of 169 specific targets focused on five critical areas: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership. Each country, regardless of their level of development, is set to localize the SDGs based on their domestic circumstances. National frameworks, policies, and strategies of individual countries should align with the SDGs and its targets.
The Philippines is one of the UN Member States who committed to implement the SDGs. Almost a decade later, and with several years remaining before 2030, to what extent has the Philippine government advanced sustainable development within the country? This article delves into the answer and explores how much the Philippine government has done for sustainable development. It presents the significant contributions of the Philippines to the SDGs and evaluates the country’s progress in relation to sustainable development both locally and internationally.
The Philippines' Commitment to SDGs
Among the flagship programs of the government to integrate the SDGs into the Philippine context is the development of AmBisyon Natin 2040. Anchored in both the collective aspiration of the Filipinos, as well as the goals, targets, and indicators of the SDGs, AmBisyon Natin 2040 embodies the pursuit for intergenerational equity by envisioning strongly rooted (matatag), comfortable (maginhawa), and secure (panatag) Filipino generations today and in the future. Likewise, the SDGs have been integrated into the five-year national development plans of the country. For 2023 to 2028, 99 out of 155 indicators were adopted into the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).
To ensure effective monitoring of SDG implementation in the Philippines, a Sub-Committee on the SDGs (SC-SDGs) has been established. Chaired by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), this subcommittee oversees the coordination and progress tracking of SDG initiatives nationwide. Meanwhile, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), through its SDG Watch, serves as the official national repository for SDG indicators, managing all the crucial data for evaluating the country’s advancement towards SDG targets. The present article includes the status of some notable SDG targets and indicators based on the SDG Watch released on 08 November 2023.
Key Contributions of the Philippines
The Philippines is actively engaged in advancing the SDGs through various initiatives and policies aimed at fostering sustainable development nationwide. While this article does not cover the activities and contributions of the civil society, including non-governmental organizations, youth, and the private sector, it is crucial to acknowledge that these groups have also aligned their efforts with the SDGs.
Ending poverty and hunger, ensuring food security and healthy living
In addressing poverty and hunger (SDG 1, 2, and 3), the Philippines has implemented several poverty reduction programs and social protection initiatives. To name a few of these, the Philippine government has rolled out the following:
- Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
- AlkanSSSya Program of the Social Security System (SSS)
- Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP)
- Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUN) Project
- Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP)
- Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD)
These programs aim to eradicate extreme poverty and uplift marginalized communities in terms of improving access to basic and healthcare services, optimizing government spending on essential services, advancing the welfare of farmers and fishers, reducing the extent of disaster-related vulnerability, meeting recommended energy intake, and reducing the prevalence of malnutrition and food insecurity, among others.
Status of SDG 1 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 1 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Population below the international poverty line | -3.4% |
Population below the national poverty line | -5.4% |
Population with access to electricity | +6.6% |
Families with access to basic drinking water services | +5.5% |
Deaths attributed to disasters | +40% |
Total government spending on essential services | -2.1% |
Status of SDG 2 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 2 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Households meeting 100% recommended energy intake | -11.5% |
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity | -10.8% |
Prevalence of malnutrition in children | -1.6% |
Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding | +11.3% |
Status of SDG 3 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 3 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Births attended by skilled health personnel | +1.2% |
Under-five mortality rate | -0.1% |
Fully immunized children | +1.9% |
Availability of essential drugs in public health facilities | -15.4% |
Government medical doctors' density | +0.11% |
Out-of-pocket health spending to total health expenditure | -4.0% |
Investments in healthcare infrastructure, early childhood care and development interventions, disease control and prevention programs, as well as the expansion of the coverage of the National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth, were also channeled to reduce disparities in access to healthcare services.
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Inclusive and quality education and lifelong learning
Access to free and quality education has been prioritized in the pursuit of advancing the SDGs. The country’s primary initiatives aimed at improving access to education, enhancing educational quality, and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all were the shift to the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum and the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931). The latter primarily provided for free tuition and other school fees in all public universities and colleges, making tertiary education more accessible in the country.
Status of SDG 4 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 4 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Completion rate in elementary | +15.6% |
Completion rate in junior high school | +19.6% |
Completion rate in senior high school | +2.1% |
Technical-Vocational Education and Training certification rate | +1.2% |
Proportion of population with exposure to internet | +27.3% |
Number of TVET trainers trained | +43.5% |
Sustainable economic growth and decent work for all
Priority for overseas Filipino and vulnerable workers was taken in the promotion of full and productive employment and decent work (SDG 8) in the Philippines. Initiatives such as reintegration programs for overseas Filipino workers and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program targeting vulnerable workers were key activities implemented nationwide. Efforts to combat child labor through extensive campaigns have also been underway, resulting in the withdrawal of thousands of children from child labor situations, according to the Philippine SDG Secretariat in May 2022.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) rolled out its Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), also known as the Kabuhayan Program, to assist and boost community enterprises. The said program has already assisted almost 300,000 beneficiaries as of May 2022.
Status of SDG 8 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 8 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Annual growth rate of real gross domestic product per capita | +1.6% |
Average daily basic pay of wage and salary workers | +₱165.00 |
Unemployment rate | -0.9% |
Youth not in education, employment, or training | -5.9% |
Children aged 5–17 years engaged in child labor | -5.2% |
Adults with bank/s and/or mobile money service provider | +16.9% |
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Sustainable industrialization and innovation
Projects for infrastructure development (SDG 9) are primarily aimed at improving mobility and encouraging economic activities and foreign investments. Major projects include the Regional Airports Project, Mindanao Rail Project, and Metro Manila Subway Project, among others.
IN SUMMARY: Mindanao Railway Project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report
MAIN REPORT: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Metro Manila Subway Project (Phase 1)
Status of SDG 9 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 9 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Manufacturing employment (% total employment) | -0.5% |
Research and development expenditure (% GDP) | +0.1% |
Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million population | +66.7% |
Total official development assistance to infrastructure | +97.1% |
Environmental responsibility and sustainability
Being the core of the SDGs, environmental sustainability (SDG 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15) has been the overarching goal for all programs and initiatives locally. The national reforestation program of the Philippines, also known as the National Greening Program or NGP, was extended up to 2028. The NGP framework strategically includes the promotion of sustainable forest management, reducing and ending deforestation, restoring degraded forests, and most importantly, substantially increasing overall afforestation and reforestation nationwide.
For biological conservation, the Protected Area Development and Management serves as the primary in-situ conservation initiative of the Philippine government. Priority for conservation is given to Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) to streamline efforts and ensure effective protection and conservation of wildlife. For marine KBAs, the SmartSeas PH Project was implemented to accelerate the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) and MPA Networks in the country. These measures are further supported by assessment programs, such as the National Stock Assessment Program for fisheries, Clean Energy – ALERT (Alternative Energy Research Trends) Program for renewable energy sources, and Geological Assessment for Risk Reduction and Resiliency Program for geohazards.
Status of SDG 7 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 7 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Population with access to electricity | +6.6% |
Population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology | +8.8% |
Renewable energy consumption | -5.9% |
Status of SDG 14 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 14 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Total coverage of marine protected areas | +122.7% |
Status of SDG 15 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 15 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Forest cover | +0.7% |
Protected areas with good ecosystem for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity | +0.3% |
Red list index | +0.11 |
Total official development assistance to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity | +10.5% |
The Philippines has also implemented community-centered disaster risk reduction and management systems. Community-based climate action programs are supported by modernized information and warning systems, alongside reliable machines, infrastructure and financing opportunities. An example of modernized infrastructure is the automated early flood warning system in Metro Manila.
Stakeholder engagement is a key strategy across various SDG-centered programs in the Philippines, like the National Search for Outstanding Coastal Community Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK), and the management of Indigenous Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs) and Local Conservation Areas (LCAs) as protected areas. The country also adopted the Making Cities Resilient 2030 or MCR2030 initiative, which aims to improve local resilience through advocacy, sharing of knowledge and experiences, and building partnerships.
Status of SDG 11 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 11 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Directly affected persons attributed to disasters | +54.4% |
Major urban centers within ambient air quality guidelines | -15.0% |
LGU adoption & implementation of local disaster risk reduction plan | +5.1% |
The Philippine Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production (PAP4SCP) is central to the government’s actions towards the advancement of SDG 12 (Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns). It provides a framework for the promotion of sustainable behavior and practices, increase the uptake of green products and services, and enactment of priority legislation that supports environmental responsibility and sustainability.
GreenDev Solutions is an environmental engineering and consulting firm that envisions to spearhead the path where development and the environment achieve a state of equilibrium. If you are working for an organization and/or project that is working towards the same end, we’d love to be of service to you and collaborate. Choose your preferred touchpoint channel with us:
Status of SDG 12 according to the Philippine SDG Watch as of November 2023
| SDG 12 Indicators | Status |
|---|---|
Proportion of industrial hazardous waste treated | +60.7% |
Monitoring of tourism sustainability | +100.0% |
RELATED READ: Climate Change in the Philippines; Status and Solutions
A Sustainable Future for the Philippines
Despite significant progress, challenges persist, necessitating continued efforts to achieve the ambitious targets set forth in the SDGs by 2030. The Philippines remains committed to sustainable development, and through policy reforms, program implementation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, it continues to strive towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
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