Manila, Butuan named champion cities in 2021 Global Mayors Challenge

Manila City Hall (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The cities of Manila and Butuan have been chosen as two of the 50 “champion cities” that are finalists in the 2021 Global Mayors Challenge, a global innovation competition sponsored by the philanthropic foundation of US politician Michael Bloomberg.

The two cities were among 630 other cities from 99 countries that submitted innovative ideas to showcase their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are eligible to be among 15 that will get $1 million to implement their ideas.

Manila submitted its mobile app that allows residents to transact basic government services online during the pandemic, while Butuan proposed to create a catalytic mechanism along the agribusiness value chain that will provide demand forecasts and price predictions linked to farmers’ production.

“This prestigious accolade belongs to every Manileño and every Filipino. But we don’t stop here. We’re committed to the next phase of the competition,” Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso said in a statement.

“We felt the urgency to accelerate our city’s transformation from a net importer of vegetables to a net exporter. Our initiative radically improves the system of backward and forward linkages of resource and market accessibility of our agricultural sector,” Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada said.