Baguio City’s leadership in smart and sustainable urban development was once again in the global spotlight as its digital governance initiatives were featured at the Seoul Smart Life Week 2025, held from September 30 to October 2 in Seoul, South Korea.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong led the city’s delegation to the event, which gathered international city leaders and experts focused on advancing smart, inclusive, and sustainable urban growth. During the Mayors Forum, Magalong delivered a talk on the theme “Bridging the Digital Divide: Digital Inclusion and AI Policy,” emphasizing how Baguio’s digital transformation aligns with global efforts toward human-centered innovation.
RELATED: [Baguio Set To Host Major AI And Robotics Innovation Facility]
Global Recognition for Human-Centered Governance
The city’s participation in the forum followed its Gold Award recognition in 2024 under the Human-Centricity category of the Seoul Smart City Prize Ceremony, where Baguio was chosen from 280 global entries. The award recognized the city’s digital health records system, telemedicine programs, and other initiatives aimed at equitable and accessible health services.
At this year’s event, Mayor Magalong was also invited to take the stage and present awards to the 2025 honorees—a gesture that reflected Baguio’s growing reputation as a model for smart city development rooted in inclusivity and innovation.
Leading with Innovation and Inclusivity
Magalong was named one of seven finalists for the Leadership Award 2025 of the Seoul Smart City Prize, which honors city leaders driving digital innovation and sustainable governance.
He reaffirmed the city’s long-term commitment to future-ready governance, saying that Baguio will continue developing smart and human-centered solutions as part of its vision to become a livable, inclusive, and creative city by 2043.
Baguio’s consistent recognition on the global stage underscores its steady progress toward becoming one of Asia’s leading smart cities, one that uses technology not just for modernization, but for improving the quality of life of its citizens.
RELATED: [Baguio’s Happy Hollow NHS Bags Asia-Wide Healthy Eating Award]
