The realities of climate change have become all too apparent with the devastation caused by super typhoon Yolanda. And as the urban population grows and the effects of climate change worsen, the need to create sustainable and climate-resilient communities has become increasingly urgent and vital.
            This year’s theme, "Green Cities," underscores the process of urbanization as one of the fastest growing phenomena in the world today and one of the most serious challenges confronting governments. Urbanization is inevitable and irreversible. We cannot stop it, push it back, call it off or slow it down. We can only live with it, cope with it, and make it work for development, which need not be a contradiction in terms. We have to make our cities sustainable, both economically and ecologically.

            And to be able to accelerate the transition of our cities into a cleaner, healthier, and more economically viable future, we need to rationalize and promote the efficient management and development of natural resources and enhance the coordination and integration of government plans, programs and projects in housing and urban development.

            To this end, we hope soon enough to be able to put in place a department that will go beyond coordinating policies and programs on housing and urban development. The creation of a Department of Housing and Urban Development is necessary in order to adequately and competently address our current and future challenges.​