Photos Credit: OCS, University of the Philippines Los Baños

The 7th APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference 2024 was hosted by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in Manila in from August 6 to 8, addressing global risks faced by cities and communities and discussing new approaches for the creation of safe and secure human settlements in the digital age.

Organized concurrently with the 3rd International Conference on Human Settlements Planning and Development (ICHSPD) under the theme “Advancing Sustainable Cities and Communities through Science, Technology, and Innovation,” the three-day event featured nine plenary speakers and eight working groups, attracting a total of 233 participants from 36 institutions in 13 economies. The multi-stakeholder dialogues had a robust regional focus; numerous participants were architects, urban planners, NGO representatives, government policymakers, and business executives based in the Philippines and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

“Sustainability challenges, such as the climate change, resource depletion, and waste management, are complex and interrelated, often extending beyond the boundaries of individual institutions,” said President Angelo Jimenez of the University of the Philippines.

“These problems require a comprehensive approach that integrates local actions with national policies and programs.”

The APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Hub has been conducting annual conferences since 2017. Working Groups constitute the core of the conferences, providing an important opportunity for delegates to participate in collaborative research in partnerships with members of the APRU network. This year, working groups’ themes ranged from children youth environments to management of water and waste.

“The 2024 Conference was a manifestation of co-production across various partners, an opportunity for us to co-learn, co-design, and co-produce impactful solutions to complex challenges confronting cities and communities,” said Dr. Jennifer Marie Amparo, Dean of the University of the Philippines Los Baños’ College of Human Ecology.

Seven special awards were given to academics, professionals, practitioners, and students under the Best Paper Presentation, Best Student Presentation, and Best Poster Presentation categories. The best paper presentation was awarded to John Ceffrey Eligue from UPLB for exploring university students’ perspectives and satisfaction on the human settlements planning specialization; and Michaelangelo R. Severa from the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the Philippines for discussing the interrelation of street network density and local competitiveness in the Philippines.

The meetings were complemented by a walking tour in surrounding Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a modern central business district of Metro Manila’s Taguing City. The participants visited the infrastructure that keep BGC flood-free, including a massive water detention tank beneath the popular park-like Burgos Circle. They also visited an urban community farm where many types of vegetables are grown surrounded by high-rises.