28 Philippine Cities Join WWF Climate Program Record

A record 28 cities in the Philippines have committed to WWF’s One Planet Cities (OPC) program for the 2025–2026 cycle, marking the largest participation since the initiative began a decade ago.

The OPC program, led by WWF-Philippines, supports cities in advancing sustainable urban development and aligning their local climate plans with global climate goals such as the Paris Agreement.

“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,” said Atty. Gia Ibay, Climate and Energy Programme Head at WWF-Philippines.

“This is the highest number of cities in the Philippines that are making a strong commitment to sustainable urban development,” she added.

The expanded participation was supported by the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), which endorsed the OPC to its member cities, encouraging broader national engagement.

Of the 28 cities, 17 are returning participants while 11 are joining for the first time, spanning Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Returning cities include Baguio, Makati, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, while new participants include Bacolod, Iloilo, Butuan, and the Island Garden City of Samal.

“The increasing number of cities recognizing the importance of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and advocating for sustainable development is a clear sign,” Ibay said.

The OPC initiative includes participation in the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC), a global climate competition that helps cities implement inclusive and science-based climate strategies.

OPCC participants report their climate actions, targets, and data through an international platform reviewed by WWF against the OPCC Assessment Framework.

Each city receives a customized Strategic Feedback Report that outlines their climate performance, progress against climate goals, and recommended next steps.

WWF-Philippines, in partnership with the ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat, also provides a Localized Feedback Assessment Report that factors in national and geographic contexts.

“A decade into the OPC journey in the Philippines, we are inspired by the continued commitment of our partner cities,” said Imee Bellen, Project Manager of One Planet Cities.

“Urban areas are significant in the reduction of carbon emissions while fostering collaboration with stakeholders and governments,” Bellen added.

A new feature of this cycle is WWF’s Strategic Support Program (SSP), which provides cities with structured learning tools, including webinars, coaching, and practical guides for tracking and communicating climate action.

Throughout 2025 and 2026, WWF-Philippines will host workshops and consultations to build the capacities of cities in reporting and improving local climate plans.

The program also plans to involve a broader range of stakeholders, including youth groups, educators, private organizations, and city officials.

To kick off the cycle, WWF-Philippines will conduct an onboarding workshop with all 28 cities in the third week of June.

Since 2015, WWF-Philippines has led the local implementation of the OPC and OPCC, part of a global effort involving more than 900 cities worldwide since its launch in 2011.