In accordance with the contract between GHK Consulting Ltd, United Kingdom (the Consultants) and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) covering the provision of consulting services on the “Developing a National Informal Settlements Upgrading Strategy (NISUS) for the Philippines Project” (or the Project), this strategic plan, also known as the NISUS, was prepared with the funding and technical support of the Cities Alliance and the World Bank. The proliferation of informal settlements in the Philippines has become a phenomenon associated with rapid urbanization. With rapid urbanization came unprecedented surges in the demand for housing and basic services in many cities, particularly the key drivers of the economy. Many local governments, while trying, have been unable to meet the increased demand given the accelerated pace warranted. The majority of informal settler families (ISFs) live in chronic urban poverty, confronted by physical, economic, social, legal, and environmental risks on a day-to-day basis. They have limited or no access to the security of tenure, capital, social networks, environmental safety, and legal security. This situation is exacerbated by the Philippines’ being singled out as one of the most disaster-prone in the world, ranking among the top 10 countries most likely to be affected by climate change due to its geographic location. Its metropolitan centers particularly Metro Manila with its dense and rapidly growing population are increasingly vulnerable to the threats of natural disasters. To facilitate the achievement of a multisectoral and multi-stakeholders consensus on how NISUS can effectively and efficiently address the challenges posed by ISFs, thematic, sectoral, and regional consultations were conducted in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao from August 2013 to June 2014.