UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay has designated Quezon City as a Creative City of Film and Dumaguete City as a Creative City of Literature. The two Philippine cities are among 58 new members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. This recognizes their commitment to promoting creativity as a key driver of sustainable urban development.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the designations were made on World Cities Day on Oct. 31. With these, the Philippines now counts five cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network: Baguio as Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art in 2017, Cebu as Creative City of Design in 2019, Iloilo as Creative City of Gastronomy in 2023, plus Quezon City and Dumaguete.
As members of the Network, Quezon City and Dumaguete City are expected to align their local and international initiatives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Membership also provides opportunities to engage in joint initiatives, share best practices, and participate in the network’s annual conferences and collaborative programs that advance culture-driven sustainable development.