Baguio City, Philippines – The City Government of Baguio, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines, has successfully completed its first Voluntary Local Review (VLR), marking a significant milestone in its commitment to sustainable development. 

Anchored on the city’s long-term vision, Baguio 2043: A Livable, Inclusive, and Creative City, and guided by the city’s Livability Index, the VLR report examines Baguio’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative underscores the city’s crucial role in localizing the Global Goals and ensuring that development is inclusive, data-driven, and community-centered.

In his message, UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran highlighted that “to achieve [a] transformative progress in the Philippines, a multi-stakeholder action is pivotal. The role of local governments in localizing the SDGs is critical, now more than ever. By measuring, managing, and embedding the SDGs through community-responsive blueprints, we are better able to collectively target appropriate solutions and shift the needle of progress.” 

The VLR process, a voluntary assessment undertaken by local governments, is a critical tool for tracking progress on the SDGs at the local level. The city’s VLR focused on nine SDGs namely, 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 13 (Climate Action). The review highlighted significant progress in several SDGs, particularly 11, 13, 4, and 8. However, the city identified challenges under SDG 3, prompting intensified efforts to strengthen health systems and services.

Leveraging the UNDP’s Social Innovation Platforms, the city’s VLR process included community consultations, engaging the youth, women, and marginalized sectors to surface lived experiences and insights from the ground. This approach ensured that the report reflected realities on the ground and highlighted both progress and areas where accelerated efforts are crucial. 

According to the 2024 UN Report for Asia and the Pacific, the world remains “severely off track” in achieving the SDGs, with projections indicating a 30-year delay beyond the 2030 target. In this context, the leadership of local governments like Baguio is more vital than ever.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong noted that, “We are not merely presenting data and statistics. We are sharing our story, a story of challenges accepted, progress measured, and dreams pursued. This VLR represents the collective voice of our community: our students and teachers, our business owners and workers, our elders and our youth, our Indigenous communities, and our residents. It reflects our shared determination to build a Baguio that works for everyone.”

The VLR is hoped to serve as a foundation for future planning and policy-making. The launch of the VLR report on 10 June 2025 (Tuesday) was attended by more than 200 representatives from key stakeholders, including civil society organizations, women, youth, indigenous communities, and government agencies, who were consulted and involved in the preparation of the report.

The 2024 Baguio City VLR Report is available here. #