MANILA, Philippines — Baguio City reaffirmed its position as a beacon of good governance, innovation, and social development after securing five major titles at The Manila Times Philippine Model Cities and Municipalities 2026 Awards held at The Manila Hotel on September 24, 2026.
Representing City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Councilor Van Dicang formally received the prestigious accolades during the annual national awarding ceremony, which highlights outstanding local government units (LGUs) across the country for their exemplary practices in sustainable urban management and public service.
The Summer Capital emerged victorious across multiple categories, taking home three top awards and two runner-up distinctions:
CHAMPION – Social Service Oriented City
CHAMPION – Safe Haven City
CHAMPION – Tech Territory City
1st Runner-Up – Infra Innovator City
- 1st Runner-Up – Food Security Enabler City
The city was recognized as the champion for Social Service Oriented City and Safe Haven City in recognition of its proactive community development programs, human-centered public assistance, and robust public safety and peace-and-order frameworks.
Meanwhile, bagging the Tech Territory City title highlights Baguio’s ongoing digital transformation under Mayor Magalong’s vision of a smart, data-driven, and transparent governance model.
The city’s citations as 1st Runner-Up in the Infra Innovator City and Food Security Enabler City categories further underscore Baguio’s strategic investments in resilient urban infrastructure, sustainable mobility, and local food resiliency initiatives.
The Manila Times Philippine Model Cities and Municipalities is an annual program that honors cities and municipalities that demonstrate exceptional leadership and innovative strategies in making local communities safer, greener, future-ready and more sustainable.
