As such, the Global Agenda 21 was adopted by the community of nations in attendance as a common action agenda to make development economically, socially, and ecologically sustainable through the joint efforts of all nations. This document embodies the consensus reached by the heads of governments and civil society. The Philippines was among the countries which adopted the Global Agenda 21 at the historic meeting. 

The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) defines sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of the future generations to meet their own”. 
 

Initiatives on sustainable development in the Philippines began in the 1980’s. Even at that time, it was deemed that the rational way of planning the country’s national progress is by pursuing sustainable development: meeting the needs of people today without sacrificing the resources for the succeeding generations. 
 
This principle has subsequently been adopted by the 1987 Constitution which mandates, as a policy of State, “the protection and advancement of the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecosystem in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature”. 

In 1989, the government formally adopted sustainable development as a guiding principle in development effort when it approved and adopted the conceptual framework of the Philippine Strategy for Sustainable Development (PSSD). The PSSD takes a balanced and integrated approach to environment and development issues. This framework was presented by the Philippine delegation at the Earth Summit. 
 
The Earth Summit strongly urged governments to use their resources and work towards sustainable development. The Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) was created on 1 September 1992 through Executive Order No. 15 in response to the commitments made by the Philippines in the 1992 Earth Summit. The PCSD was created with the primary task of ensuring that the commitments made at Rio and the implications of the Earth Summit to the Philippines are implemented, periodically monitored and coordinated at the global level. 

The PCSD, as one of the few government bodies that have adopted the principles of counterparting and consensus-building in formulating its stand was instrumental in the crafting of the Philippine Agenda 21 (PA 21).  The Council is composed of representatives from the government and civil society. In 1996, President Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No. 370 strengthening the PCSD, and in the process brought in the sectors of labor and business as active participants, they being major stakeholders in sustainable development. 

The Philippine Agenda 21(PA 21)  

The Philippines, as a signatory to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), has been a forerunner in sustainable development initiatives. Its guiding framework is the Philippine Agenda 21 (PA 21), a document which outlines program of actions that need to be pursued to ensure the attainment of the country’s vision for sustainable development. This vision is for “a better quality of life for all through the development of a just, moral, creative, spiritual, economically vibrant, caring, diverse, yet cohesive society characterized by appropriate productivity, participatory and democratic processes and living within the limits of the carrying capacity of nature and the integrity of creation. 
 
The PCSD coordinated the formulation of the PA 21, which would serve as the country’s blueprint for sustainable development path over the medium term; and the basis from which policies, legislations and programs on sustainable development would emerge. 

This document was formally adopted as the as the country’s national action agenda for sustainable development for the 21st century on September 26, 1996 by virtue of President Ramos’ Memorandum Order No. 399, which also provided mechanisms for its operationalization. 

The PA 21 articulates the country’s commitment to implement sustainable development. It includes: 1) an analysis of the current and emerging landscape for sustainable development that defines the starting conditions for PA 21 implementation; 2) a conceptual framework and vision for sustainable development that embody the Agenda’s core values and principles; 3) sustainable development parameters and strategies which correspond to the Agenda’s basic policy ingredients; and 4) sustainable development descriptors that translate the parameters into specific action strategies. 

The elements of the PA 21 should be integrated into and as major components of development plans, programs, projects, and budgets of government agencies, and private sector entities involved in sustainable development. 

The PA 21 has the following major parts: 

a) The Principles of Unity identifies the common ground which will unite the key actors in their pursuit for sustainable development; the Operational Framework consists of a multilevel guide for decision-making which comprises the vision for sustainable development, its principles, trends, criteria, parameters, and descriptors. 

b) The Action Agenda elaborates the mix of strategies that integrate sustainable development parameters in the country’s overall development strategy. In formulating the action agenda, Pa 21 has been guided by the key concepts of integration, multi-stakeholdership, consensus-building, and operationalization. 

c) Implementation: Strategies as Well as the Challenges Ahead. The PA 21 must be identified by doing. This implies concrete policy statements as well as appropriate implementation strategies on the critical issues that will affect sustainable development in the Philippines in the next thirty years which include strengthening the role of major groups; information, education and communication, financing, localization, monitoring, and assessment mechanisms. 

The PA 21 defines sustainable development for the Philippines as “the harmonious integration of a sound and viable economy, responsible governance, social cohesion/harmony and ecological integrity to ensure that development is a life-enhancing process”. 

“In our individual capacities, we can work for this better state of life. Human persons are gifted with an intellect which is able to conceive and achieve the most complex of ideas. We are therefore challenged to expand the horizons of our minds and to transcend our self-serving limitations so that our willful acts serve as the seeds we sow, to which the harvest is sustainable development. That for Mother Earth would be hope in the twilight of this century.” 

Lifted from the Article “Our Home, Our Hope” Philippine Star, 22 April 1997 p. 26  

MANDATES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PCSD 

The PCSD has the following mandates: 

1. To review and ensure the implementation of the commitments made by the Philippines in light of the UNCED and PA 21; 

2. To establish guidelines and mechanisms that will expand, concretize, and operationalize the sustainable development principles, as embodied in the Rio Declaration, the UNCED, Agenda 21, the National Conservation Strategy and PA 21, and incorporate them in the preparation of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan, both at the national and local levels, with active participation from the non-government sector and people’s organizations 

3. To formulate policy reforms, programs, and projects, and recommend new legislations that respond to continuing and emerging issues, and chart future actions related to environment and sustainable development; 

4. To provide policy advice to appropriate bodies on environment and sustainable development issues of national interest; 

5. To institutionalize a mechanism that would ensure linkage among the legislative and executive branches, local government units, non-governmental organizations, business and other concerned entities/sectors, in the formulation of policies and decision-making on sustainable development concerns; 

6. To act as the coordinating mechanism with the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and actively solicit assistance and cooperation towards the realization of the Philippine commitment made at the UNCED; 

7. To review and monitor plans, policies, programs, and legislations on sustainable development and recommend mechanisms/strategies for promoting efficiency and timeliness of their execution; 

8. To establish a networking mechanism that will establish links with local and international organizations involved in sustainable development; 

9. To call on any and all government agencies, resource persons and other groups, whenever necessary, to assist the Council in the performance of its role and functions; and; 

10. To catalyze the formation and institutionalization of local councils for sustainable development, in close coordination with local authorities. 

THE PCSD STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION 

 The PCSD believes that success in the broad arena of sustainable development lies in the full cooperation of the various stakeholders. Government, civil society, as well as business and labor will have to work together toward making sustainable development an operational reality. This commitment is reflected in the structure of PCSD, described as follows: 
 

THE COUNCIL

The other government member agencies are the following Departments: 

Agrarian Reform 
Agriculture 
Budget and Management 
Education, Culture, and Sports 
Energy 
Finance 
Foreign Affairs 
Health 
Interior and Local Governments 
National Defense 
Public Works and Highways 
Science and Technology 
Social Welfare and Development 
Tourism 
Trade and Industry 
Transportation and Communications

 The Council, as provided for in E.O. 370, has the authority to invite any government agency or non-government entity as resource person. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES

1. Committee on Social and Economic Dimensions (CSED) 

This committee tackles issues related to poverty, consumption patterns, population, human health, human settlements, and decision-making.

The committee tackles primarily the physical dimensions of the environment and issues associated with them. Given the breadth of this subject matter, the Committee is divided into four subcommittees tasked with specific areas of concern; (a) the Subcommittee on Atmosphere; (b) the Subcommittee on Biodiversity; (c) the Subcommittee on Water Resources;  and (d) the Subcommittee on Land Resources.

This Committee addresses the various needs as well as the roles of the major participants in realizing sustainable development efforts and ensure the creation of a critical mass of advocates in both the government and non-government sectors. The major groups envisioned to be the stakeholders and key players in sustainable development are women, children, and youth, indigenous peoples, NGOs, local government authorities, trade and labor unions, business and industry, scientists and technologists, farmers and fisherfolk, and the physically-challenged.

This is committee is responsible for the establishment of  linkages with, and solicitation of assistance from international organizations in the fulfillment of the Philippine commitments to the UNCED. It is also tasked to identify local and institutional arrangements and mechanisms that would facilitate the implementation of these commitments. The committee is composed of the Subcommittees on: (a) Financing Arrangements; (b) Science and Technology; (c) Information and Education and (d) Legal and Institutional Arrangements.

COUNCIL SECRETARIAT

DISTINCT FEATURES OF THE PCSD

“The Council has also reminded us how fruitful it is for both government and the civil society to join hands. The Council has given new meaning to the concept of counterparting  - the government secretariat works harmoniously with its counterpart NGO-PO Secretariat. This a work technique worth emulating in the other endeavors of government.” (From the speech delivered during the First Anniversary of the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development, October, 1993)

The PCSD grants the NGO-PO, business and labor sectors a counterpart role in decision-making. The PCSD’s decision-making process requires a consensus among its members. Hence, the PCSD position on an issue would in many respects represent the views and sentiments of a cross-section of Philippine society. 

The PCSD is committed to information-sharing. Information necessary for members to make clear, firm, and informed judgements on policy issues will ensure the effectivity of the Council. 

The PCSD is a potent mechanism for strengthening civil society and its role in sustainable development. More than any other government organization, the Council operationalizes people empowerment through a genuine, democratic participation of all sectors.