UNESCO names Cebu City as Creative City of Design

Cebu City was among the 66 new UNESCO Creative Cities for 2019, making it the second Philippine city to earn the distinction after Baguio.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network now has 246 member cities across the globe. The 66 new members were welcomed last week, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Tuesday.

“Having UNESCO Creative Cities in the country will significantly advance creative excellence that cultivates national pride, advances innovation, and boosts our growing creative economy,” Socioeconomic Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said in a statement.

NEDA said the recognition is a result of the collaboration between the public and private sectors through the Regional Development Council-Central Visayas, led by award-winning industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue.

Applicants for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network can choose to specialize in the fields of Crafts and Folk Arts, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, or Music.

In 2017, Baguio City was named a UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Art.

“We hope that the recognition of Cebu and Baguio can inspire our agencies and private sector partners in the Regional Development Councils to collaborate more closely in making more cities represent the best talents our country can offer to the world,” Edillon said. —Julia Mari Ornedo/VDS, GMA News