...the PH zero-waste city

Ten zero-waste cities: How Taguig in the Philippines became clean

By Sonia Henam, Swati Singh Sambyal

downtoearth.org

Last Updated: Wednesday 13 November 2019

Can we imagine a city in India without waste? Arguably, no. Rather our cities are drowning in their own wastes.

It is a big challenge now to collect, segregate and manage our waste in cities and towns. But there are cities across the world, including in India that have become completely waste-free.

They did so by adopting the ‘zero waste model’. This model is all about significantly reducing waste, eventually completely eliminating it.

Most of what we now waste can be safely and economically recycled, reused, composted, or turned into biogas through anaerobic digestion. It also creates a large number of well-paying jobs. Informal waste collectors are brought into the net and provided with decent earnings and dignity.

This is a unique model of solid waste management — frugal and generating wealth from waste. And it is successfully being implemented.

Down To Earth has curated a list of 10 cities across India and the world which are now ‘zero-waste’.

Taguig’s fight to be clean

The first among them is Taguig in the Philippines, which became clean mainly by segregating waste at source and diverting it. 

A few years back, the city, a barangay or community of metropolitan Manila, was known for its dumpsite, a vacant plot, where heaps of mixed waste from its households as well as those in its affluent neighbours landed.

Perhaps the best example of how Taguig’s transformation took place is one of its own barangays, Fort Bonifacio. The youngest barangay in Taguig, Fort Bonifacio had a population of about 11,739 according to the 2015 Census. It produces about 0.32 kilogram per capita per day of waste.

In 2009, Fort Bonifacio officials were facing challenges on managing its waste. They had limited resources and no clue from where to start the process of managing waste.

In order to address the increasing issue of solid waste, the city officials approached Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), a Filipino non-profit, for assistance.

In 2011, under the guidance of MEF, Fort Bonifacio officials visited barangays with the best RA 9003 (a legislation in the Philippines on SWM) practices such as Barangay Bagumbuhay in Quezon City; Teresa in Rizal; and Puerto Prinsesa in Palawan.

They then proceeded with a self-assessment and baseline survey, visiting each of Fort Bonifacio’s eight zones to scope out problem areas where waste accumulated.

The MEF trained barangay officials and project staff on waste analysis and characterisation study (WACS) and ecological solid waste management (ESWM). It followed this by conducting an intensive information education communication (IEC) campaign and finally setting up a materials recovery facility (MRF).

MEF and Fort Bonifacio formally launched ESWM in 2012 and the barangay passed an ordinance in full compliance with the national law on ESWM.

This ordinance formally established the barangay ecological solid waste management programme, mandating correct segregation, collection, recycling, and disposal, as well as an MRF site for the barangay. In 2014, the ordinances were updated to respond to new developments. This further helped the work on ground.

According to the WACS, organic waste comprised 40 per cent of the total waste in Fort Bonifacio, representing the amount that could easily be composted and converted into fertiliser, and thus diverted from the landfill. This showed that there was a value in waste, if segregated.

“Eighty per cent of the waste collected is diverted at the MRF and has 95 per cent household compliance rate,” Sonia Mendoza, chairman of MEF, said.

 Waste Composition in Brgy. Fort Bonifacio (2012)

“During the pilot, 15 informal waste pickers were trained and absorbed as official waste collectors of the barangay. Now, the waste pickers earn about PHP 8,000 (US$ 186) as compared to PHP 3,000 (US$ 70),” she added.

Mendoza said this also reduced the number of city trucks collecting waste from the barangay, from the daily average of four trips per day, down to only one trip per day, resulting in savings of around P10, 000 (US $195) per day for the city.

According to the GAIA report on Taguig city, waste diversion serves as an indicator for both income — as recyclables are sold — and project success.

The project resulted in more efficient use of Taguig’s budget, saving PHP 800 (US$ 15) per cubic feet.

As the number of dump trucks dropped from four in 2012 to one per day in 2013, just a year after the project began, hauling expenses were similarly slashed by three-fourths, from PHP 7.3 million (US$ 141,200), to PHP 1.825 million (US$ 35,300) per year.

Today, 95 per cent of Taguig’s households segregate their waste before it is collected. The city is now clean and free of litter, and has shown remarkable progress in the fight against waste.

It was recognised as the ‘cleanest barangay in metro Manila’ in terms of solid waste management (SWM) in 2015.

...the PH world's creative cities

Cebu joins Baguio on UNESCO's list of world's 246 'creative cities'

Jenina P. Ibañez
Business World 
01 November 2019

CEBU CITY has been counted among the 246 UNESCO Creative Cities around the world, becoming the second Philippine city after Baguio to bag the recognition.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Audrey Azoulay on Wednesday declared Cebu as one of the 66 new cities to be included on the list of cities that push creativity and innovation as major factors in urban development.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in a statement on Thursday that creative cities with varied income levels and populations support sustainable development actions that directly benefit communities at urban level.

Cebu was designated a creative city of design, one of seven UNESCO categories that also include gastronomy, literature, film, music, crafts and folk art, and media arts.

Baguio City was included in the crafts and folk arts category in 2017.

“All over the world, these cities, each in its way, make culture the pillar, not an accessory, of their strategy,” Ms. Azoulay was quoted as saying. “This favors political and social innovation and is particularly important for the young generations.”

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez in a mobile phone message said that the designation raises the city’s image. “Cebu City as a UNESCO Creative City of Design raises the image of the city and becomes a seal of approval and recognition in the global stage. Therefore, it is a great testimony to the city and the country of our design talents and skills and help in the positive branding of the city and country.”

He added that Cebu and DTI will work to maintain the recognition by nurturing the city’s design ecosystem “from the point of view of enterprise and investment development, talent development and education, and public awareness.”

MATIQ Hub board member Butch Carungay, as a private consultant, led Cebu’s application to UNESCO with support from local government and the DTI. They highlighted contributions of creativity to Cebu City’s economy by tracking business registrations of creative industries and sifting through export databases.

MATIQ Hub is a multi-disciplinary enabling space for creativity that focuses on indigenous materials, art, technology and innovation.

Mr. Carungay said in a telephone interview that Cebu artists export furniture and fashion products, and have strong graphics and animations industries.

“We’re a very small island with very little resources, so we have a resilient industry of being able to maximize what little we have to become a really innovative city,” he said.

He said that he hopes the UNESCO designation will kickstart more projects in the city.

“When we started this process, Cebu has a lot of gaps in hardware. We don’t have the proper infrastructure,” he said.

Continued growth of the creative industry, Mr. Carungay said, would require more hardware: creative venues for artists to congregate and create commercial projects. He also hopes to improve what he calls the creative software of the city: embedding design thinking into education and the workplace.

After joining the network, creative cities are tasked to strengthen the creation and distribution of cultural activities, goods, and services. They commit to developing creativity hubs, improving access to cultural life for vulnerable groups, and integrating creativity into sustainable development plans.

Applicants were required to demonstrate their commitment and capacity to contribute to these objectives by demonstrating a development strategy, creative assets and facilities, and the capacity to involve professional and civil society, among others.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia in a mobile phone message expressed optimism for more Philippine cities to be included in the list. “That’s great — an incentive for Cebu to become even more creative, as well as for other cities to aspire for such recognition,” he said.

The post Cebu joins Baguio on UNESCO’s list of world’s 246 ‘creative cities’ appeared first on BusinessWorld.

ZANY JADRAQUE/UNSPLASH

...the World Smart Cities Awards finalist

Makati finalist in World Smart Cities Awards



Jan Arcilla 
Manila Times
25 October 2019

MAKATI City is the lone Philippine city that has been selected as a finalist for the World Smart Cities Awards, according to Mayor Mar-len Abigail Binay.

The award will be presented during the Smart City Expo World Congress to be held in Barcelona, Spain from November 19 to 21.

“Makati City is proud to have the opportunity to represent our country at a global event that features the best practices of smart cities around the world to promote the sustainable development of cities,” Binay said.

The city was selected as a finalist in the Innovative Idea category.

We have gladly accepted the invitation, and we look forward to having a meaningful exchange of ideas and experiences with fellow advocates of sustainability and inclusivity from other parts of the globe. We are also eager to explore avenues for international collaboration, particularly with cities, academic institutions and corporate leaders that share the vision of thriving, future-proof cities worldwide,” the mayor said.

Makati has been invited to present its project entry titled, “Use of technology to improve city disaster preparedness and communication to and from city citizens” during the awarding ceremony on November 20 at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, one of the largest fair venues in Europe.

The annual SmartCity Expo World Congress, which started in 2011, is the meeting point for companies, public sector, startups, academia and citizens working together for the sustainable development of cities.

With the theme, “Cities Made of Dreams,” this year’s congress will focus on five tracks — Digital Transformation, Urban Environment, Mobility, Governance and Finance, and Inclusive and Sharing Cities.

Last month, Binay presented the city’s disaster management plans and strategies at the International Urban Resilience Forum held in Seoul, South Korea.

...the inspiration

Inspired by fun in the Philippines

            

DIPLOMATIC POUCH

By Lee Hyuk

The Philippine Star

June 12, 2014

 

 

"More than anything else, I believe that Korean tourists are flocking to the Philippines for its beauty and the hospitality of its people." - Lee Hyuk,  Ambassador of the Republic of Korea

In my two years in this country, I have visited many places that affirm the claim that “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” Apparently, I am not alone. Many of my fellow Koreans have been visiting the Philippines in the past, and they continue to do so in ever increasing numbers. I am happy to say that Koreans comprise about 25% of the foreigners who visited the country last year, making them the number one tourists.

Koreans are everywhere — from beach resorts to mountain trails, from diving spots to golf courses. Others have taken residence here, either in the suburbs or in the metropolis.

And where there are Koreans, there would be Korean restaurants and grocery stores. They cater as well as to the Filipinos who have developed a taste for Korean cuisine. It is part of the Korean wave or hallyu, that the Philippines has been riding for quite some time, and includes Korean-novelas on TV and K-Pop.

More than anything else, I believe that Korean tourists are flocking to the Philippines for its beauty and the hospitality of its people.

I myself have visited some popular areas, like Boracay and its pristine beaches, Bohol with its Chocolate Hills and tarsier sanctuary, and the mountain peaks of Cebu. This June, I will visit Palawan and finally get to see one of the World’s New 7 Wonders of Nature, the Underground River in Puerto Princesa.

My experiences have been fantastic. While the infrastructure may not be perfect, I expect more foreigners to arrive after the European Union removed the Philippines from its aviation blacklist last year.

On the other hand, there were more than 400,000 Filipinos who visited Korea last year. This was a 20.9% growth from the previous year. This number is significant, and indicates that Korea is becoming one of the favorite vacation spots of Filipino tourists as well.

 

Seoul has a special appeal to many visitors, and so does Jeju Island, which, incidentally, is also one of New 7 Wonders of Nature. People enticed by our own slogan, “Korea, Be Inspired,” probably visit Korea to shop for clothes, cosmetics, and electronic gadgets, as well as to have a taste of authentic Korean food, and enjoy the historical attractions. I heard that some also go to Korea for its salons and cosmetic surgery clinics. Seoul, like Metro Manila, is a “hip” and “stylish” place, especially for women, young and old.

The number of visitors may vary, but it is really a two-way exchange. While many Filipinos are in Korea on vacation, on scholarship, or as skilled and reliable workers, Koreans come to the Philippines to see the sights, to study, or to set up a business.

The affinity between our peoples is understandable. Geographically, the Philippines is our nearest neighbor in Southeast Asia. The weather is perfect for us who come from the temperate zone. And aside from the famous Filipino hospitality, we have shared values, especially with regard to the family.

Koreans in the Philippines may sometimes give the impression of detachment. Filipinos who visit Korea, however, actually have more positive encounters. In general, Koreans are relatively shy and reserved, especially when meeting people for the first time. Once people get to know us, they realize that we cherish meaningful friendships just like everyone else, and that Koreans are also a fun-loving and friendly people. The growth of Philippine tourism may just be one of the means to improve the image of Koreans in this country. After all, it’s more fun to make friends in the Philippines.

 

...the capital of fun

Manila depicted as ‘capital of fun’

 

Manila Bulletin

Sat, Jun 14, 2014

Manila, the second largest city and capital of the Philippines, is the subject of the newest “It’s more Fun in the Philippines” campaign.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeuU5mE74jk

 

 

The thirty-three second video clip released by the Department of Tourism (DOT) defined Manila as the capital of fun. The video showcased several remarkable places in Manila such as the historical Luneta Park, Intramuros as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Makati which is the financial capital of the Philippines.

In its website, DOT said Makati is the perfect place to indulge in world-class cuisine while Intramuros is the best place for a cultural escapade.

The DOT said the new advertisement “shows Manila as the city that has everything under the sun.”

The country's tourism slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines” was launched in 2012 to attract visitors to the country. The campaign hopes to enjoin the whole country in creating positive buzz around this tagline. The campaign has earlier featured Davao City and Boracay. (Mary Rose A. Hogaza)

...the emerging city of tomorrow

Why UN Habitat named CDO an ‘emerging city of tomorrow’

 

By Mozart Pastrano, Ninfa U. Along-Albania
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, May 19th, 2014

Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) has been named an “emerging city of tomorrow” in this year’s World Urban Forum in Colombia organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat).

 

CDO is the only Philippine city on the list, which includes Hunchun, China; Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Malmo, Sweden; Nampula, Mozambique; Onitsha, Nigeria; Santa Marta, Colombia; Tetouan, Morocco; and Uberlandia, Brazil.

 

CDO is ranked by the National Competitiveness Council as the Philippines’ most competitive city.

 

The mayor of CDO is former Misamis Oriental 1st District Rep. Oscar S. Moreno.

 

The city government has pioneered in the computerization of business permits and licensing, as well as the assessment and payment of real property tax.

 

“Getting a business permit takes up less than an hour,” said Eileen Canoy Escobar-San Juan, the city’s local economic and investment promotions officer.

 

She also noted that a key driver in the city’s remarkable growth was the “very strong private sector support and initiative.”

CDO is the growth driver of Northern Mindanao (Region 10), whose economic growth continues to exceed those of the other regions in Mindanao.

 

CDO’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) was P240 billion in 2012, up by 7.4 percent compared to its 5.8 percent growth in 2011. This was largely due to the acceleration of the industry and services sectors, which rose by 9.2 percent and 9.0 percent, respectively.

 

Although agriculture stepped up by only 2.4 percent, contributing 28 percent to the region’s economy.

 

Nationwide, Northern Mindanao (Region 10), which includes CDO, ranked third in per capita GRDP.

 

Dynamism

 

Fueling the region’s growth is CDO’s economic dynamism, government efficiency and appropriate infrastructure. New industries utilizing information technology are being established in the city.

This fast-growing city of over 600,000 people provides easy access to an enormous concentration of markets in Northern Mindanao.

 

The Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) facilitates direct and cost-efficient movement of containerized cargoes to Manila, Cebu and international shipping hubs.

 

The multi-berth Cagayan de Oro Baseport handles inter-island passenger travel with connectivity to the country’s nautical highway and the logistics corridors of Mindanao.

 

Laguindingan Airport services air logistics requirements, while an extensive road network leads to and from the major production areas and markets of Mindanao.

 

The expansion of the MCT and Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) Power Plant will consolidate CDO’s position as the largest logistics center in Southern Philippines.

 

While the rest of Mindanao has been experiencing severe power shortages for many months now (with up to 16-hour outages daily in one Mindanao city), CDO has been hit by brownouts only at the tail end of this summer.

 

That’s because it is approaching self-reliance in power: with Minergy’s 27.4-MW and 18.9-MW diesel power plants, STEAG State Power’s 210-MW coal-fired power plant—plus Bubunawan Power Company’s 7-MW run-off river hydro project in tandem with Cepalco’s 1-MW photovoltaic solar power plant—the only grid-connected PV power plant in the Philippines.

FAMILIES visiting their deceased relatives and staying overnight in Bolonsery public cemetery last Nov. 1. Right: Uncompleted bridge over Iponan River connecting Bulua with Opol.Once completed the bridge should be part of a new coastal artery crossing Cagayan de Oro.

Complementing the logistics infrastructure of Cagayan de Oro is the rapid modernization of the city’s telecommunications infrastructure, transforming the city into a business center and international logistics and telecommunications hub of the south.

 

Educational center

Beyond infrastructure, CDO is the center of education in Mindanao. Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan is Mindanao’s first university—and, in fact, is the first Jesuit university in the Philippines.

 

Capitol University and Liceo de Cagayan University are cited by the National Association of Colleges and Universities as among the country’s top 10 higher education institutions with the largest number of accredited programs.

With 15 universities and schools, CDO accommodates 82,000 students and 22,000 graduates every school year.

 

Custom-designed skills training and apprenticeship programs are readily available to serve human resource requirements. For example, Xavier University has partnered with Asian Carmakers Corp., the country’s official BMW distributor, to bring German automotive expertise to technical education students.

 

CDO’s strategic location and rich agricultural resources have made it the preferred site of major agribusiness companies such as Del Monte Philippines (which set up the world’s largest integrated pineapple processing plant here), Nestlé Philippines, Pilipinas Kao and other small and medium agri-based industries.

 

As a gateway to Southern Philippines, CDO provides direct access to rich agricultural areas in Mindanao—the source of 40 percent of the country’s food and livestock. CDO is a significant producer of oleochemical and other coconut products.

 

Higher-value products through agro-processing offer investment opportunities. Presently, Northern Mindanao is the top producer of cattle and is the third largest producer of poultry in the country.

 

CDO is also a key destination of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) in Southern Philippines. It has 4,806 rooms from various accommodation facilities that can handle conventions with 3,000 participants. It is trying to improve these rather limited numbers.

 

White water rafting capital

COURTYARDS in Carmen Barangay, developed by Pueblo deOro

CDO is the white water rafting capital of the Philippines, attracting ecotourism adventure seekers who also delight in experiencing ziplines and spelunking and diving, among other outdoor activities.

 

CDO is linked to Camiguin, which is renowned for its luxurious beaches, hot springs, waterfalls and historic landmarks; to the mountain ranges of Bukidnon, home to seven indigenous communities; to the Caraga region capitals of Butuan and Surigao with boast eco-tourism thrills; and to the Lanao del Norte nexus of Iligan City and Marawi City, home of the

colorful Maranao people.

Over the years, the Cagayan River has renewed its claim over CDO—the primordial gateway through which flowed the transactions and transformations of people and progress, commerce and culture, ideas and values.

Hit by Tropical Storm “Sendong” in 2011, CDO is a portrait of resilience, said Fr. Roberto C. Yap, SJ, president of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.


“Usually,” he said, “the word reminds us of the bamboo because of the way it dances with the wind in times of typhoons and then snaps back in place afterwards. But I would like to propose that resilience should mean not just overcoming challenges but prevailing over them to become better, stronger much more than we have been."

...the emerging cities of the future

Manila ranks 2nd in 'emerging cities of future' list

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

 04/16/2014

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – Manila is among the world's emerging cities likely to progress in the next two decades, according to a study by US-based consulting firm A.T. Kearney Inc.

The Philippine capital placed second in the ranking, lagging behind Indonesian capital Jakarta.

Jakarta, Indonesia

"Two Southeast Asian cities, Jakarta and Manila, head up the list of emerging cities most likely to progress. Although both cities are currently in the lower half of the GCI on the dimension of business activity, their rapid improvement on the ECO's leading indicators would allow them to reach the business leaders faster than any other low- or middle-income city in the world except São Paulo," the report said.

 

Manila, Philippines

A.T. Kearney said Manila “is bolstered by a relatively sharp increase in human capital indicators, with an especially notable improvement in healthcare quality and availability.”

The Philippines has seen rapid economic growth recently, with gross domestic product (GDP) growing 7.2 percent in 2013, surpassing the government’s target of 6-7 percent and one of the fastest in Asia.

A.T. Kearney’s Emerging Cities Outlook measured the likelihood that cities in low- and middle-income countries will improve their global standing over the next 10 to 20 years.

The study cited business activity, human capital and innovation in the emerging cities as indicators.

"Cities that wish to improve or maintain their global positioning must focus especially on strengthening business activity and human capital. As physical distances become less relevant and global competition intensifies, cities in emerging economies will increasingly jockey for position with one another and with cities in higher-income countries,” A.T. Kearney said in its report.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, ranked third while Sao Paulo in Brazil and New Delhi in India ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.




Sao Paulo, Brazil

New Delhi, India

Rounding up the top 10 emerging cities likely to rise are

Rio de Janeiro,

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Bogota,

Bogota, Colombia

Mumbai,

Mumbai, India

Nairobi,

Nairobi, Kenya

and Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

 

...the Manila property spot

Manila among top Asian property investment spots

Cliff Harvey C. Venzon
BusinessWorld Online
10 january 2014


MANILA HAS emerged as one of Asia’s top real estate investment destinations for this year, according to a survey by Washington-based Urban Land Institute (ULI) and global financial services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

 

 

The Philippine capital placed fourth among 23 investment prospects in 2014, according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific report released on Thursday night. Manila ranked 12th last year.

 

"Manila has risen through the ranks this year, the result of a fast growing economy, increasing popularity of the city as a destination for multinationals seeking outsourced services (both business process outsourcing [BPO] and back office), and a growing awareness that the problems long associated with lack of transparency and governance issues have improved," the report stated.

The BPO industry’s head count grew by 21% to 776,794 in 2012, according to the Information Technology and Business Processing Association of the Philippines (IT-BPAP). That figure was expected to have grown by 20% last year, based on industry projections.

IT-BPAP, meanwhile, aims for revenues to reach $25 billion by 2016 with an estimated 1.3 million in labor force. Industry revenues reached $13.2 billion in 2012.

"The country also benefits from a young demographic, strong capital inflows from local citizens working overseas, and a workforce with a cultural affinity with the West," the report said.

According to the report, prime office rents are still well below pre-global financial crisis rates but are growing at 5-8% per year.

Office take-up hit 400,000 square meters last year, "with demand remaining high," it added.

The report also noted the constitutional restriction on land ownership.

"As with the other emerging markets, Manila can be a hard place in which to invest, partly because of laws that prevent foreigners from majority ownership of land and partly because there is already plenty of domestic liquidity," it said.

"Core product is therefore difficult to find, but on the opportunistic level a yield spread of 350 to 400 basis points can provide operating cash flow returns in the mid-teens," it added.

Meanwhile, Tokyo emerged as the top real estate investment destination for this year, displacing Jakarta, which slipped to third place after Shanghai.

Completing the list were Sydney, which placed fifth, Guangzhou (6th); Singapore (7th); Beijing (8th); Osaka (9th); Shenzhen (10th); Bangkok (11th); China’s secondary cities (12th); Melbourne (13th); Kuala Lumpur (14th); Seoul (15th); Taipei (16th); Auckland (17th); Hong Kong (18th); Ho Chi Minh (19th); Bangalore (20th); New Delhi (21st); Chennai (22nd) and Mumbai (23rd).

ULI and PwC researchers personally interviewed 120 individuals, while survey responses were received from 130 individuals who were affiliated in property, financial and investment companies.

...the New 7 Wonder Cities finalists

Vigan among finalists in 'New 7 Wonders Cities' campaign


            

 philstar.com

October 22, 2013

 

 

File photo of the Heritage Village in Vigan City. Val Rodriguez/The Philippine Star

 

MANILA, Philippines - The historic city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur has been included in the shortlist for the "New 7 Wonders Cities" in the world.

Vigan, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, is the only Philippine city in the list of 28 candidates that were selected as advised by a panel of experts.

Bernard Weber, founder-president of Swiss firm New7Wonders, said the selection of the finalists is "particularly exciting in its variety."

“This outstanding shortlist of 28 cities mirrors the diversity of urban society, especially when, for the first time in history, more than half of our planet’s population lives in cities," Weber said on the New7Wonders website.

Vigan is one of the few Hispanic towns in the country and is best known for its well-preserved colonial architecture.

Like the other finalists, Vigan was selected from an initial long list of 77 voted candidates that also included the cities of Cebu and Iloilo.

The shortlisted cities will now undergo three elimination phases determined by public voting through the New7Wonders website, which will end on December 7, 2014.

 

The 28 finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Athens, Greece
Bangkok, Thailand
Barcelona, Spain
Beirut, Lebanon
Casablanca, Morocco
Chicago, USA
Doha, Qatar
Durban, South Africa
Havana, Cuba
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Istanbul, Turkey
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kyoto, Japan
La Paz, Bolivia
London, United Kingdom
Mendoza, Argentina
Mexico City, Mexico
Mumbai, India
Perth, Australia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Prague, Czech Republic
Quito, Ecuador
Reykjavik, Iceland
St. Petersburg, Russia
Seoul, South Korea
Shenzhen, China
Vancouver, Canada
Vigan, Philippines

...the PH cities in New 7 wonders tilt

Cebu, Iloilo, Vigan vie for New7Wonders title

 

By Kim Arveen Patria

Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom

Fri, Oct 11, 2013

 

rajkumar1220 - Mestizo District, Vigan, Luzon, Philippines

After the Puerto Princesa underground river was named one of the new wonders of nature, three Philippine cities are now being recognized by Swiss firm New7Wonders.

The cities of Cebu, Iloilo and Vigan bested more than 200 other cities to be part of “long list” of 77 revealed by New7Wonders President Bernard Weber October 7.

The “long list” of 77 is based on the results of online voting which began in March 2012. More than 300 cities were initially considered from nominations sent from around the world.

“Global in its scope, this remarkable New7Wonders long list reflects the energy and culture of the city at its best,” Weber said in the New7Wonders website.

“[C]ities remind us of the possibilities of civilization when, for the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population live in cities,” he added.

The list of 77 will further be trimmed to 28 and will be subjected to online voting by October 21. The top seven cities will be announced by year-end 2014.

Weber earlier said he hopes the campaign will be a “catalyst for discussing everything from urban planning to metropolitan governance, from tourism to architecture.”

The New7Wonders Cities is the third global voting campaign by the Swiss firm, after the man-made New 7 Wonders of the World and the New7Wonders of Nature.

In 2011, Palawan’s famed Subterranean River National Park was named as one of the world’s New7Wonders of Nature, amid an aggressive campaign by local officials.

Weber said, “My hope is that the New7Wonders Cities campaign will generate debate about the challenges cities face… and how they are responding to them.”

The cities Cebu, Iloilo and Vigan would have to compete with the following cities so far to be among the New7Wonders Cities:

Accra, Ghana
Asuncion, Paraguay
Athens, Greece
Auckland, New Zealand
Baghdad, Iraq
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Bangkok, Thailand
Barcelona, Spain
Beirut, Lebanon
Bethlehem, Palestine
Bogota, Colombia
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cairo, Egypt
Casablanca, Morocco
Caracas, Venezuela
Cuenca, Ecuador
Chicago, U.S.
Curitiba, Brazil
Cusco, Peru
Doha, Qatar
Dubai, UAE
Durban, South Africa
Edinburgh, UK
Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Havana, Cuba
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Istanbul, Turkey
Jakarta, Indonesia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kyoto, Japan
La Paz, Bolivia
Lagos, Nigeria
Las Vegas, U.S.
Lima, Peru
London, UK
Mendoza, Argentina
Mexico City, Mexico
Miami, U.S.
Montevideo, Uruguay
Montreal, Canada
Mumbai, India
Muscat, Oman
Naples, Italy
Nadi, Fiji
Nairobi, Kenya
New York, U.S.
Panama, Panama
Paris, France
Perth, Australia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Prague, Czech Republic
Quito, Ecuador
Reykjavik, Iceland
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rome, Italy
St. Petersburg, Russia
San Jose, Costa Rica
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santiago, Chile
Seattle, U.S.
Seoul, South Korea
Shenzhen, China
Singapore, Singapore
Surakarta, Indonesia
Sydney, Australia
Tehran, Iran
Tokyo, Japan
Toronto, Canada
Valparaiso, Chile
Vancouver, Canada
Vientiane, Laos
Zurich, Switzerland