Disasters are becoming more frequent, complex, and costly. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (UNDRR) Global Assessment Report 2025, direct global disaster losses reached $202 billion in 2023, while indirect and cascading effects pushed the true annual cost to $2.3 trillion, highlighting that the full economic toll of disasters extends well beyond immediate physical damage.

Cities are basically the economic engines of national economies. Regardless of whether you are   looking at developed or emerging countries, cities typically outperform their own host countries in terms of GDP, productivity, innovation, and creativity. Their growth outpaces the country they belong to. That should not really be so surprising since cities are the hubs of opportunity, innovation, and community. They concentrate a large population in a relatively small space, which can create economies of scale and efficiency. When well planned, power and energy, communications, water, transportation, healthcare, education, and other basic services can be delivered efficiently and affordably. Density can be good, when well managed.

We are pleased to announce that Liveable Cities Philippines will be joining the Urban Connect project. Urban Connect is a USAID project which focuses on urban development and management in nine cities across the Philippines: Batangas City, Iloilo, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga City, General Santos City, Puerto Princesa, Legazpi City, and Tacloban.