The Makati City local government proudly announced its win at the 1st Philippine Tourism Excellence Awards as one of the best cities in the Philippines that are pursuing sustainable tourism.
The awarding ceremony was held at the Sheraton Hotel on Nov. 18 and was attended by Makati City Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and Makati City International Relations Head Ichi Yabut on behalf of Mayor Abby Binay who was in Barcelona, Spain for the 2022 Smart City Expo World Congress.
Makati City won in the local government category for its valuable contribution to sustainable urban tourism development.
"Local governance is essential for sustainable urban tourism development. The city government can help protect the local environment, create opportunities for locals to benefit from increased tourism revenue, and contribute to long-term economic growth. We will continue to work hard to provide tourists with premium hospitality, entertainment options, and cultural attractions," Binay said.
Binay underscored the importance of having a strong and meaningful relationship among the local government, business owners, residents, and other stakeholders as they must also develop and enforce strong regulations that promote responsible behavior among tourists, and invest in infrastructure projects to improve the quality of life for residents, workers, and tourists.
In July, Makati started hosting the monthly celebration of national day with ambassadors and representatives from various embassies in the city to strengthen partnerships with the diplomatic community.
"Through initiatives like these, we hope to inspire more people to visit Makati and experience its dynamic urban culture. Makati remains one of the top tourist destinations in the country and we are confident that it will continue to be recognized as a model for sustainable urban tourism development in the years to come," Binay said.
Apart from being tagged as the country's business hub, Makati City is also being recognized as a tourism-centered city due to the local government's steadfast efforts in promoting tourism and sustainability to the public.
On Oct. 17, Makati City was named by a renowned travel website as one of the safest cities in the country that tourists can visit.
According to Travel Safe-Abroad.com, the city ranked sixth in its latest list of 10 Safest Cities in the Philippines due to its low crime index.
The website said the city has a crime index of 39.55, similar to the cities of Dumaguete and Iloilo, from a range of zero to 100, with 100 being the worst.
In September, the city government launched its newest tourism-oriented service to the public that aims to increase the number of people visiting the city’s tourist spots.
According to the city government, MakaTurismo was created to attract the public and tourists to visit the city and establishments that have been designated as heritage sites.
Those who want to know more about Makati City’s tourist destinations may visit www.makaturismo.ph. The site also offers recommendations for accommodation, and free walking tours, Tuesday to Sunday, to the St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Church-Garden Way of the Cross, Central Business District, Poblacion Heritage Sites, Salcedo Community Market, and Legazpi Sunday Market.
The city government and the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) also launched the historical marker placed at the Museo ng Makati where the Presidencia of San Pedro Macati was previously located.
The Old Presidencia was built in the 1930s and served as a town hall until 1961. In 1990, then Mayor and former Vice President Jejomar Binay converted the Old Presidencia into a local museum.
In 2019, the NMP declared the Old Presidencia as an “Important Cultural Property” for its cultural, artistic, and historical significance to the country.
Today, the Museo ng Makati houses different archeological artifacts, earthenware, rare photographs, dioramas, and murals depicting the rich history of Makati City.
According to Binay, there are five more structures in the city that have been declared as Important Cultural Properties by the NMP. These are the:
1. Church Complex of San Pedro y San Pablo (St. Peter and Paul Church Complex) located in Poblacion
2. Church Complex of Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Guadalupe Viejo
3. Ermita de San Nicolas de Tolentino in West Rembo
4. Passenger Terminal and Control Tower of the old Nielson Airport
5. Makati Stock Exchange Building by National Artist Leandro Locsin in Bel-Air
Binay said they will also put up historical markers in these areas for the public to easily recognize the cultural, artistic, and historical significance of the city and the Philippines.
The mayor explained that aside from the sites’ recognition from NMP, the city government also passed an ordinance protecting and maintaining these historical sites.
Under City Ordinance No. 2019-A-094, the Makati Built Heritage Ordinance, the four historical sites, aside from the Makati Stock Exchange building, have already been declared as “locally significant” by the city government.