Pasay City, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) honored the ingenuity and creativity of 10 cities from Western Visayas at the 2024 Lunsod Lunsad Ceremonial Awarding held on 06 August 2024. This event underscores the DTI’s commitment to fostering socio-economic growth  through local creative sectors.

The 2024 Lunsod Lunsad Awards spotlight the transformative power of creative initiatives in driving economic development and cultural revitalization. Awardees  from Western Visayas include Bacolod City, Bago City, Cadiz City, Iloilo City, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, Roxas City, Sipalay City, San Carlos City, and Victorias City.

As part of their award, they will receive funding and technical support from the DTI to implement their proposed projects that highlight their creative potential.

Bacolod City presented the 2024 Bacolod Film Festival, while Bago City introduced the Dagyaw Lunsod Lunsad: Creative Mangrove Trail. Other projects included 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.

Furthermore, Sipalay City developed Lakbay Sipalay Creative Tours, Victorias City showcased Lunsod Lunsad Victorias in Motion, Cadiz City highlighted Cadiznon Lunsod Lunsad Year 2: Elevating Creative Excellence, Iloilo City presented Iloilo City Lunsod Lunsad Creative Gastronomy Mapping, Strategy Development and Showcase, and Roxas City developed the Lunsod Lunsad Ilawod Illustrated Children’s Book Series.

The ceremonial awarding was attended by key figures from the government and creative sectors, including DTI-Competitiveness Innovation Group Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba, DTI-Communications Group Undersecretary Ed Sunico, DTI-Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary Grace Baluyan, and Honorable Lani Mercardo-Revilla, among others.

Director Lilian G. Salonga, Officer-in-Charge of the Creative Industries Development Office, expressed her excitement about the potential impact of these projects. Meanwhile, DTI Region 6’s Regional Director (RD) Rachel N. Nufable showed her immense pride in the region’s achievements.

“We are proud of our Western Visayas cities for their creative project proposals in the Lunsod Lunsad Project. This recognition reflects the region’s vibrant creative spirit and innovative approach to economic development,” said DTI Region 6 RD Nufable. 

“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,” she added.

The DTI anticipates that the successful implementation of these projects will significantly contribute to the growth of creative industries in Western Visayas and the Philippines as a whole. With the theme “A Call for Creative Proposals towards Building Creative Cities,” the 2024 Lunsod Lunsad is a flagship initiative project of the DTI under Philippine Creative Industries Development Act that is focused on supporting and empowering local creative talents, promoting economic sustainability, and developing the cultural and creative landscapes of our country’s cities. ♦

Date of release: 08 August 2024

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