Baguio wins 2026 WHO award for use of data in health initiatives

Baguio City was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for its initiative in using data in providing targeted health and social access to residents.

"The City of Pines" received the “Data for Equity: Informing Action, Improving Health” award at the 2026 WHO Healthy Cities Recognition Awards during the 11th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities in Sydney, Australia on September 1.

The Baguio local government unit said the city was recognized for “its contribution to the health and well-being of its citizens and to the advancement of Healthy Cities goals in the Western Pacific.”

Under Baguio’s City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office, the barangay-level Livability Index maps disparities in health, social conditions, and access to basic services across the city’s barangays.

The Index shows the residents’ experience in their communities, generating data that can help city officials identify areas facing greater challenges and determine where interventions and investments are most urgently needed.

By identifying differences in living conditions across communities, LGUs can plan targeted responses and allocate resources to those most in need.

The findings in the index are also integrated into city planning, budgeting, and investment decisions, strengthening the role of evidence in determining development priorities.

Baguio received the same award in 2021 for its Smoke-Free Baguio campaign.
— Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA News