BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The city has been accepted into the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), joining cities worldwide committed to advancing lifelong learning as a foundation for inclusive and sustainable development.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong received formal notification of the city’s successful application from the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) on December 4, 2025, accompanied by an official Certificate of Membership.

UNESCO announced the new member cities in a press release issued the same day.

𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

 

Mayor Magalong hailed the development as a milestone for the Summer Capital, calling it “a testament to Baguio’s strong culture of learning and community empowerment.”

“This recognition from UNESCO places Baguio on the world map not only as a creative city but now also as a learning city,” he said.

“It validates the work of our educators, communities, and institutions in nurturing a culture where learning is accessible, inclusive, and lifelong. We welcome this opportunity to collaborate with global partners and further strengthen programs that uplift our people through education.”

He added that the city will make full use of the platform to broaden its learning initiatives and advance sustainable development goals.

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

GNLC membership provides Baguio access to international platforms for policy dialogue, peer learning, and collaborative initiatives with learning-focused cities across the globe. Member cities work together to strengthen education systems, develop capacity-building programs, enhance monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and exchange knowledge on effective practices.

UNESCO supports member cities in developing innovative approaches to lifelong learning strategies and encourages the sharing of successful models. Baguio has been invited to participate in UNESCO’s #ImALifelongLearner campaign, which promotes continuous learning among city residents.

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼’𝘀 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆

Long recognized as the educational center of Northern Luzon, Baguio’s acceptance into the GNLC affirms its enduring commitment to learning and knowledge-sharing. The Learning City designation strengthens initiatives already underway through the Creative Baguio City Council (CBCC), which advances creative education, cultural development, and community learning in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As a UNESCO Creative City, Baguio now holds dual recognition within UNESCO’s global networks, demonstrating how integrated approaches to culture, creativity, education, and community development can drive urban resilience and inclusion.

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀

The City Government, CBCC, and education stakeholders will develop local communication initiatives and align programs with UNESCO’s lifelong learning framework. UNESCO has provided official logos, communication templates, and campaign guidelines to support implementation.

This achievement positions Baguio as a leader in demonstrating how Philippine cities can leverage international networks to advance sustainable and equitable development.

The city’s application to the prestigious body was prepared by a team composed of Creative Baguio City Council (CBCC) co-chairperson Marie Venus Tan, City Tourism Operations Officer Aloysius Mapalo, City Planning Development and Sustainability Coordinator Donna Tabangin, artists Liezl Dunuan and Gabe Mercado, and representatives from the city’s different schools. – CBCC