The Manila Times to honor model cities, municipalities

THE Manila Times will again honor model cities and municipalities in the Philippines on Wednesday, July 19, at the Conrad Manila in Pasay City.

Themed “Making Cities More Inclusive,” the TMT forum will feature experts who will lay down sustainable and inclusive planning and resource-allocation strategies to make cities livable, egalitarian and just.

The speakers include Lea Roque, principal and head of tax advisory and compliance of P&A Grant Thornton; Architect Felino Palafox, Jr., founder and managing partner of Palafox Associates; Loren Sales, vice president for customer management group of PHirst Park Homes; Rosemarie Bosch- Ong, director, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Wilcon Depot;

and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim.

Palafox’s discussion will focus on “Postcards from the Future Philippines at 500 and Beyond the Next 100 Years.”

The world-renowed architect and one of the most well-read columnists of The Manila Times will show what Philippine cities looked like in the past, what the country is undergoing and its possible transformation in the next few years.

Roque, on the other hand, will talk on “Fiscal Federalism: Challenges and Opportunities for the Philippines.” Nebrija will discuss “The Importance of Public Space for cities of the Philippines” while Gilles Hage, vice president for Commercial Strategy for Lamudi, will talk about “Philippine Cities and Municipalities: Online Data and Trends.”

Meanwhile, Lim will present the agency’s programs, including “Cities without Borders: Towards an Integrated and Smart Mega-Manila,” while Mario Suelto, technical manager of Philippine Green Building Council, will present their “Green Building and theBERDE Program.”

The TMT also gave out the same awards in 2017.

The Manila Times President and Chief Executive Officer Dante “Klink” Ang 2nd said the awards aimed to “recognize effective and innovative local governance that improves the quality of life, makes local business environments friendlier, and overall makes this country a great place to live in”.

Last year, entries were judged according to the following criteria: Peace and Security; Rest and Recreation; Research and Development; Health and Education; Clean and Green; Road and Home; Livelihood and Employment; Youth and Elders; Tax and Services; and Emergency / Disaster Preparedness

Bacolod City was named the country’s Most Livable Urban center.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia and other city officials accepted the award, which he said, “motivates us to continue with our quest for a culture of excellence.”

In the final round, Bacolod bested competition from Batangas, Davao, Gen. Santos, Laoag, Mandaluyong, Naga, Parañaque, Quezon City, San Fernando, Sta. Rosa, Tagaytay, and Zamboanga.

Apart from Bacolod, other winners were: Sta. Rosa City, Safe Haven awardee for peace and order; Batangas City, Environment Friendly City; Tagaytay, Retirement Haven awardee; Parañaque City, Education Hub for publicnscholarships and city-funded schools; Quezon City, Social Services awardee for Programs for Youth Development and Empowerment; Zamboanga City, Social Services awardee for Programs for Health and Elderly; Mandaluyong City, Wealth Center awardee for investment-friendliness and an improved tax system; Gen. Santos City, Road Home awardee for public infrastructure and public housing projects; Laoag City, Emergency and Disaster Management awardee; and Davao City, Tourism Hub

Nungan, a municipality in Lanao del Norte was given a special recognition as an emerging hub in Southern Philippines.