Thursday, 30 October 2025

EVENT TITLE: PLANADES attended People-Centered Smart Cities and LGUs for Nature-Positive Resilience

On October 28, 2025, the Planning and Development Research Foundation, Inc. (PLANADES), represented by its Executive Director, Dr. Tabassam Raza, participated in Urban October hosted by UN-Habitat Philippines in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP). This event served as the culmination of Urban October 2025 and brought together national and local stakeholders to discuss innovative pathways toward sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban development.

The activity aimed to:

Highlight the role of nature-based solutions, particularly ecosystem-based adaptation, in strengthening climate governance and enabling effective local action.

Explore the convergence of nature-based solutions and people-centered smart LGU strategies in addressing complex urban challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality.

Showcase innovative practices that demonstrate the synergy between digital technologies and nature-based solutions, enhancing urban resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability.

Facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration among national agencies, local governments, communities, and partner organizations in integrating ecological protection with smart urban planning approaches.

Urban October 2025 began with World Habitat Day on October 1, themed Urban Crisis Response, emphasizing the need to address the interlinked crises affecting urban areas—including climate impacts and conflicts—while promoting effective tools and strategies for crisis management. The month concluded with World Cities Day on October 31, themed People Powered Smart Cities, underscoring the transformative potential of digital technologies in reshaping urban life and improving the planning, design, management, and governance of human settlements.

PLANADES expresses its appreciation for being part of the discussions, activities, and collaborative efforts that deepen understanding of the challenges and opportunities brought about by the rapid changes unfolding in cities and towns today.