Welcoming New SDSN Philippines Members for 2026

The SDSN Philippines welcomed its newest members through an online onboarding session. Mr. Antonio Carlos Maralit, Country Manager of the Local Network, presided over the session and shared the history and background of the SDSN.

It was presented that SDSN Philippines was launched in 2015 with the following objectives: 1) Promotion of the SDGs, 2) Application of an integrated, participatory, multi-sectoral approach, and 3) Participation in a global network of knowledge institutions. The local network operates under a unique rotating hosting structure, with De La Salle University currently serving as the host institution until 2027.

Opportunities for new members to engage in network projects were highlighted, particularly in the areas of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Zero Hunger, Carbon Neutrality, and SDG Localization. In addition, digital and knowledge-sharing platforms such as SustainChain and the SDG Academy were introduced as important resources for strengthening engagement within the network. SustainChain serves as a global collaborative platform that connects various stakeholders working on sustainable development solutions and enables them to share projects and ideas. Meanwhile, the SDG Academy offers free, high-quality online courses on several sustainability topics, helping build the capacity of members through accessible, science-based learning materials.

Afterward, Ms. Rafaella Justine Marie Villena, National Coordinator, presented SDSN Youth and its local network in the Philippines. Launched in 2015, SDSN Youth is one of the world’s largest networks of young leaders committed to advancing a sustainable future. Operating through national and regional youth networks, it mobilizes young people to collaborate, innovate, and take action on pressing sustainability challenges.

Ms. Villena outlined the mission of SDSN Youth's national chapter, which focuses on empowering the Filipino youth to create sustainable development solutions through awareness-raising, capacity building, and advocacy, in collaboration with academia, local governments, and other key stakeholders. In April 2026, SDSN Youth Philippines and its member organizations will spearhead an ESD initiative focused on Gender Equality. This legal awareness and empowerment session features legal resource persons who will provide guidance on the provisions, legal rights, and mechanisms under the Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Act and other relevant gender-related laws, as well as community-based initiatives that support these frameworks.