Philippines, Japan and GIZ meet to explore collaboration for transit-oriented development policy guidelines

The DHSUD Environmental, Land Use, and Urban Planning and Development Bureau met with Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) and Urban Renaissance (UR) Agency to explore collaboration for strengthening the policy environment for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in the Philippines. The meeting was coordinated by GIZ, through the Urban-Act Project. The TRANSCEND and CASE Projects under GIZ also shared how they support the government’s priorities through urban solutions.

The MLIT, headed by Director Sachio Muto, presented successful TOD projects in Japanese cities as well as opportunities and barriers in their implementation. He also discussed the agency's innovations in visualizing infrastructure development and flood events that support evidence-based decision-making. On the other hand, the UR Agency, headed by Director Tomoaki Hosoda, also presented their services, which the Philippine government can potentially avail of for building knowledge and capacity on TOD.

The said meeting was made possible by the Urban-Act Project resulting from new connections made during the 12th World Urban Forum held in November in Cairo, Egypt, where DHSUD, together with Urban-Act pilot cities were active participants. Urban-Act supports the Philippine government in strengthening the policy environment for urban climate action and pilot cities in evidence-based planning.