The 2026 Philippine Model Cities and Municipalities Awards honored local government units for sustainable urban design, with Calamba City and Bacnotan taking top honors on Sept. 24, 2026, while the Asian Development Bank released an economic outlook lowering the nation’s 2026 growth forecast to 3.7 percent.
Calamba City and Bacnotan Claim Top Honors at the 2026 TMT Awards
The Manila Times bestowed awards on Sept. 24, 2026, under the theme “More than Resilience: Environmental Communities Cultivating First World Economies,” drawing a record 65 entries from local government units competing across 15 categories. Calamba City in Laguna secured the TMT Top Model City Award in the overall cities division for the third time, following prior victories in 2023 and 2025, alongside a win in the Sustainability Champion category for its integrated green city plan. In the overall municipalities division, Bacnotan in La Union achieved the TMT Top Municipality Award for the second time since 2024, earning high marks for eco-friendly governance, coastal management, community sanitation, and urban greening.
Organizers introduced a new Mega City Special Award to evaluate rapidly urbanizing component cities against traditional sustainability metrics, conferring the honor on the City of General Trias in Cavite as a major industrial hub with extensive residential townships.
Did You Know?
The Philippine Model Cities and Municipalities Awards began in 2017 as a pioneering initiative to champion livable urban design before expanding to a record 65 competing local government units by September 2026.
Asian Development Bank Lowers 2026 Growth Forecast for the Philippines
The Asian Development Bank published its September 2026 report titled “Navigating Prolonged Energy Shocks and El Niño” at its headquarters in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, adjusting macroeconomic projections for the country. The publication lowered the 2026 growth forecast for the Philippines to 3.7 percent from the 3.8 percent projected last July, while keeping the 2027 forecast steady at 5.3 percent. The downgrade accounts for weaker domestic demand, delayed investments, higher energy and commodity costs, and climate-related risks associated with a strong El Niño phenomenon.
Inflation remains a pressing concern as elevated energy prices feed into food and transport costs, potentially constraining household consumption and complicating monetary policy decisions. Despite these pressures, the Asian Development Bank noted underlying resilience in the Philippine economy, supported by manufacturing, services, government spending, and investment. Across the broader Southeast Asian region, growth projections were upgraded to 4.7 percent in 2026 and 4.9 percent in 2027.
Calamba City and Bacnotan Win Top Awards in Resilience Competition
What theme centered the 2026 Philippine Model Cities and Municipalities Awards?
The awards program centered on the theme “More than Resilience: Environmental Communities Cultivating First World Economies,” featuring entries from 65 local government units across 15 categories.
Which local government units won the top overall divisions?
Calamba City in Laguna won the TMT Top Model City Award in the overall cities division, and Bacnotan in La Union captured the TMT Top Municipality Award in the overall municipalities division.
What are the Philippine growth projections issued by the Asian Development Bank in September 2026?
The Asian Development Bank projected Philippine economic growth at 3.7 percent for 2026 and maintained a projection of 5.3 percent for 2027 in its report titled “Navigating Prolonged Energy Shocks and El Niño.”
How might local economic managers address the combination of climate risks and inflation pressures moving forward?