The Philippines has made progress in more than half of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but has deteriorated in health and disaster risk reduction, according to data released by the Philstar Biz report citing the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The PSA’s latest SDG Watch shows improvements in poverty reduction, decent work, and industry innovation, among others.
Key gains include progress on SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). The report noted that the country’s poverty incidence continued to decline, while employment and infrastructure spending rose. These advances align with the government’s long-term development agenda.
However, setbacks were recorded for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) regarding disaster risk reduction. The PSA cited increased mortality from non-communicable diseases and insufficient preparedness for natural hazards, underscoring challenges in healthcare access and climate resilience.