EARTH Day 2025 is still seven months away, but plans are now under way for the unveiling of a special publication on sustainability by The Manila Times on April 22 next year. The publication will have the combined features of a book and a magazine — also known as a “bookazine.” It will highlight the significance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as applied in the Philippine context.
Titled “Pathways to Prosperity: The Manila Times Smart and Sustainable Companies and Communities,” the bookazine will focus on corporate organizations as well as local government units (LGUs) and national government agencies that are exemplars of ESG and SDGs.
The special project on sustainability will be launched on September 19 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria along Ortigas Avenue corner Asian Development Bank Avenue in Quezon City. The project launch will take place during the awarding ceremony of The Manila Times Model Cities and Municipalities Awards, which is now in its fifth edition.
Since 2017, dozens of LGUs have garnered this prestigious award. Many of these LGUs have achieved social development, improvement of livelihood, economic growth and expansion through innovation. Among the categories in the annual competition are: business-friendly, food security enabler, sustainability champion, eco-friendly, emergency disaster management excellence, tourism hub, social service-oriented, education hub and safe haven.
Bacolod City won the Best Model City award in 2017 and 2019, while Davao City was the 2018 winner. There were no awardees from 2020 to 2022 due to the global pandemic, and when the awards resumed in 2023, the Best Model City award went to Calamba City.
Municipalities were included in the recognition program starting 2018, when the town of Agoo, La Union, emerged as the Best Model Municipality awardee. It was followed by the municipality of Liloan, Cebu, as the 2019 winner. In 2023, the town of Bulakan, Bulacan, won the Best Model Municipality award.
These twin projects of The Manila Times shall serve as bridges between the public and private sectors in its steadfast commitment to promote sustainability and good governance among Filipinos.
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