BAGUIO CITY – City budget officer Leticia Clemente said that Baguio’s recent inclusion in UNESCO’s creative cities network (UCCN) in crafts and folk art provides the city with strategic opportunities to stimulate and innovate its local policies towards creativity and strengthen international outreach.
She made the statement in Monday’s flag-raising rites at City hall during the “creative cities” launch attended by local officials led by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, tourism regional director Venus Tan and representatives from the creative sector.
“More than the international accolade, the city’s membership in the UCCN is a commitment to place the 2030 agenda for sustainable development notably making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, sustainable and putting the new urban agenda at the heart of its future development strategies and plans as well as join the international community in the fast growing momentum for sustainable development,” Clemente said.
She stressed that the designation as a UNESCO Creative City represents the starting point of a long-term journey to move Baguio along a more sustainable development path through culture and creativity.
“Along this framework, as our budget has just been authorized and approved, may we implement our programs taking into consideration our commitment to sustainable development. Our designation is anchored on the action plans specified in our application and will be reviewed and evaluated every four years,” Clemente explained.
“Thus come 2019 budget preparation and onwards, we will include in our departmental budget proposals programs that will support our commitment to the UCCN,” she added. /Gaby Keith