Western Visayas Cities Honored at 2024 Lunsod Lunsad Awards

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recognized the innovative and creative efforts of 10 cities from Western Visayas during the 2024 Lunsod Lunsad Ceremonial Awarding on August 6, 2024 at the Philippine Trade Training Center.

The 2024 Lunsod Lunsad Awards celebrate transformative projects that demonstrate the power of creative initiatives in driving both economic development and cultural revitalization.

The honored cities include Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz, Iloilo, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Roxas, Sipalay, San Carlos, and Victorias.

Each of these cities received funding and technical support from the DTI to implement their proposed projects, which are expected to enhance their creative potential and contribute significantly to local growth.

Among the innovative projects were Bacolod City’s 2024 Bacolod Film Festival and Bago City’s Dagyaw Lunsod Lunsad: Creative Mangrove Trail.

Other cities also showcased a variety of creative endeavors: Kabankalan City’s Arts Beats & Eats: Kabankalan Creative Culture Camp, La Carlota City’s Taliambong Kag ang Mangkasanon: Empowering Local Community through Arts and Design Skills Transfer, and San Carlos City’s Vamos Green Creatives and Innovation Hub, among others.

“These projects will not only boost our local economies but also showcase our rich cultural heritage on a national stage. We look forward to seeing these creative initiatives transform our communities and inspire further innovation across the region,” said DTI Region 6’s Regional Director Rachel N. Nufable.

The awards ceremony was attended by prominent figures from the government and creative sectors, including DTI-Competitiveness Innovation Group Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba, DTI-Communications Group Undersecretary Ed Sunico, and DTI-Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary Grace Baluyan.

With the theme “A Call for Creative Proposals towards Building Creative Cities,” the 2024 Lunsod Lunsad Awards align with the goals of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, focusing on supporting local creative talents and promoting economic sustainability.

The DTI anticipates that the successful implementation of these projects will significantly contribute to the growth of creative industries in Western Visayas and beyond.