Wazzup Pilipinas!?
The highest-ever number of cities are joining WWF-Philippines’ One Planet Cities (OPC) program marking a significant growth in the Philippines urban sustainability movement since it started 10 years ago.
“We are seeing an almost double growth in the number of cities that joined the program, from 15 cities in the 2023-2024 cycle to 28 in the 2025-2026 cycle. This is the highest number of cities in the Philippines that are making a strong commitment to sustainable urban development,” Atty. Gia Ibay, Climate and Energy Programme (CEP) Head, said in a statement.
“The increasing number of cities that are recognizing the importance of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and advocating for sustainable development is a clear sign. The call for all sectors to unite and take action for the climate is not just a necessity, but an urgent one, especially now as we mark our 10th anniversary,” she added.
Of the 28 cities leading the charge, 17 are returning, while 11 are joining for the first time.
Luzon:
Returning - Baguio City, Batangas City, Legazpi City, Makati City, Malolos City, Naga City, Puerto Princesa City, San Fernando City (La Union), Santa Rosa City
New - Balanga City, Calapan City, Carmona City, Laoag City, Ligao City, Tayabas City
Visayas:
Returning - Catbalogan City, La Carlota City, Ormoc City, San Carlos City (Negros Occidental)
New - Bacolod City, Iloilo City
Mindanao:
Returning - Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Dipolog City, Tagum City
New - Butuan City, Island Garden City of Samal, Oroquieta City
The significant increase in the number of participating cities was helped in part by the support of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), which endorsed the OPC program to its member cities. The LCP's endorsement has been instrumental in spreading awareness and encouraging more cities to join the program, demonstrating the power of collaboration in driving sustainable urban development.
Since 2015, WWF-Philippines has been implementing the global WWF OPC program and its flagship One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) – a biennial, global challenge that assists cities to act as transformation catalysts, implementing integrated and inclusive plans in line with the 1.5°C, while ensuring urban climate resilience and unlocking individual and collective climate actions. OPCC is the longest and largest friendly competition since 2011, engaging a total of 900 cities all over the globe.
“A decade into the OPC journey in the Philippines, we are inspired by the continued commitment of our partner cities and we are proud to witness more cities stepping up to lead climate action. Urban areas are significant in the reduction of carbon emissions while fostering collaboration with stakeholders and governments, which is vital in driving inclusive, adaptive, and science-based climate solutions at the local level,” Imee Bellen, Project Manager of One Planet Cities, said.
For OPCC, all participating cities will report their climate actions, strategies, and data through a standardized international platform, which is reviewed by WWF and compared against good-practice, climate-action-planning criteria guided by the OPCC Assessment Framework.
Each participating city will then receive a tailor-made “Strategic Feedback Report,” which shows the city’s climate journey, its alignment with the Paris Agreement, the alignment of the city’s goals and targets versus their actual initiatives, and providing further recommendations on the most effective actions to meet such targets.
A “Localized Feedback Assessment Report” that takes into consideration the national context, including policies, geographical location, and financial viability, will be provided by WWF-Philippines, with the assistance of the ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat (ICLEI-SEAS).
A key addition to this 2025-2026 cycle is the launch of WWF’s Strategic Support Program (SSP)—a new initiative designed to provide cities with structured learning opportunities and guidance to strengthen their climate strategies. Through a dynamic mix of webinars, practical guides, and group-based coaching, the SSP will equip cities with tools and insights to help them develop, communicate, and track science-based climate action.
Locally, WWF-Philippines will also deliver relevant activities to assist cities in reporting climate data and improving local climate plans and actions. This support will be provided through a series of capacity-building workshops and consultations throughout the two-year local implementation of the program.
Additional activities are also planned to actively engage a diverse range of urban stakeholders, including youth, educators, private organizations, and city representatives. To kick off their 2025-2026 OPC engagement, a workshop with these 28 Philippine cities will be conducted in the 3rd week of June.
ChatGPT said:
28 Philippine Cities Unite in Historic Climate Pact with WWF’s One Planet Cities Program
Marking a Decade of Climate Action, the Philippines Sets a Bold Precedent for Urban Sustainability in Southeast Asia
In an unprecedented show of unity and climate resolve, 28 cities across the Philippines have pledged to reshape their urban futures by joining WWF-Philippines’ One Planet Cities (OPC) program, setting a historic record for the highest participation in the initiative since its launch in the country ten years ago.
From the cool highlands of Baguio to the sun-drenched coasts of Davao, and from the financial heart of Makati to the vibrant culture of Iloilo, cities are rising as beacons of hope in a time of escalating climate urgency.
“This isn’t just a milestone—it’s a movement,” declared Atty. Gia Ibay, Climate and Energy Programme Head at WWF-Philippines. “We are witnessing an almost two-fold increase in city participation—from 15 in the previous cycle to 28 this year. This surge reflects a growing recognition among local governments that climate action can no longer wait.”
A New Era of Urban Climate Leadership
Out of the 28 participating cities, 17 are recommitting to the OPC, reinforcing their ongoing dedication to sustainability, while 11 bold newcomers are stepping into the fold, eager to carve out greener, more resilient futures.
Luzon is leading the charge, with returning cities like Baguio, Batangas, Makati, and Puerto Princesa, joined by new entrants such as Balanga, Laoag, and Tayabas. The Visayas region welcomes the likes of Bacolod and Iloilo as fresh faces, alongside returning trailblazers such as San Carlos and Ormoc. In Mindanao, climate veterans Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Tagum now stand beside rising allies Butuan, Samal, and Oroquieta.
This groundswell of commitment was further galvanized by the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), whose national endorsement of the OPC program catalyzed interest and participation from its member cities.
Decade of Dedication, Decade of Progress
Since 2015, WWF-Philippines has implemented the global OPC program, alongside its crown jewel—the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC). This biennial, friendly competition pits cities against the greatest challenge of our time: climate change. Globally, over 900 cities have engaged with the OPCC, pushing boundaries to align with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement climate goal.
In the Philippines, the journey has been long and transformative.
“A decade into the OPC journey in the Philippines, we’re inspired by the enduring commitment of our partner cities,” shared Imee Bellen, Project Manager of One Planet Cities. “Urban areas are ground zero for emissions, but they also hold the greatest potential for innovation, collaboration, and climate resilience.”
Science-Based, Locally Grounded
As part of OPCC, each participating city will submit its climate actions and data through a standardized international platform reviewed by WWF. What follows is a personalized “Strategic Feedback Report,” benchmarking each city’s plans against global best practices and Paris Agreement alignment. Cities will also receive a “Localized Feedback Assessment Report,” tailored to national and regional realities—developed by WWF-Philippines in partnership with ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat (ICLEI-SEAS).
But the innovation doesn’t stop there.
New for the 2025-2026 cycle is WWF’s Strategic Support Program (SSP)—a game-changing initiative that offers structured learning through webinars, coaching, and practical toolkits. The SSP is poised to become a catalyst for smarter, more impactful climate strategies across Philippine cities.
From Policy to People: A Whole-of-City Approach
WWF-Philippines is also ramping up support through capacity-building workshops, consultations, and stakeholder engagement. With activities targeting not just city officials, but also youth, educators, business leaders, and civil society, the OPC program aims to ignite a truly whole-of-city transformation.
This June, the journey officially begins. A national workshop will gather all 28 participating cities to launch their two-year OPC cycle—laying down the foundation for action, collaboration, and hope.
A Future Written by Cities
In an era marred by climate crises and environmental degradation, it is in our cities—where most people live, work, and dream—that the fight for the planet will be won or lost.
With this landmark 28-city alliance, the Philippines is proving that climate leadership doesn't have to wait for the future. It’s already here—and it’s being written one city at a time.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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