SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA - The City of San Fernando, Pampanga has permanently etched its name into the history books of Philippine local governance. Under the visionary administration of City Mayor Vilma Balle-Caluag, the capital city captured an unprecedented 12 major awards at the prestigious 7th Philippine Model Cities and Municipalities Awards and Forum. Hosted by The Manila Times—one of the nation's oldest and most respected publishing institutions—the grand ceremony took place on September 24, 2026, at the historic The Manila Hotel. This year's competition marked the largest and most competitive iteration in the award-giving body's history, featuring a record-breaking pool of 65 local government units (40 cities and 25 municipalities) vying for recognition under the theme "Environmental Communities Cultivating First-World Economies."
Breaking Records on the National Stage
In all of San Fernando's years of participating in the program, this is the first time the city has executed a clean sweep of this magnitude. The haul includes eight Top Awards (First Place finishes) and four First Runner-Up titles (Second Place finishes) across a wide spectrum of public service metrics. Mayor Caluag personally accepted the trophies alongside key members of her executive team, including City Administrator Atty. Kristannico Abad, City Planning and Development Coordinator EnP. Paolo Israel Franco, and Acting City Information Officer Jay-ar Hipolito. The awards were presented on stage by The Manila Times Chief Executive Officer Anna Marie Ang-Thompson and President/COO Blanca Mercado.
The Winning Blueprint: A Breakdown of the 12 Honors
The city's diverse and holistic approach to local administration was heavily validated across both primary and secondary sectors. The eight Top Awards include the Infrastructure Innovator award for the CSFP's Road Network Improvement and Bridge Construction initiative; the Education Hub award for the pioneering "One Tablet, One Student" Program and "Project AKBAY: College Education Behind Bars"; the Family First award for the Legal Education Forum, San Fernando's pioneer Human Rights City status, and the Child Labor-Free San Fernando campaign; the Business-Friendly award for the Innovation and Digital Transformation of LGU services and the PESO Digitalization Program; the Livelihood and Employment-Centered award for the "Fernandino, Tara, Magobra" Zero Unemployment strategy; the Wealth Center award for Investment Promotion programs and the Lantern and Lights Decoration Project; the Tourism and Culture Hub award for the CSFP Tourism Week Celebration, the Giant Lantern Festival, Teatro Fernandino, and Rondanklung preservation efforts; and the Food Security Enabler award for the Organic, Urban, and Backyard Gardening Project.
The four First Runner-Up finishes include the Safe Haven award for the Kayabe Ka King Disiplina civic behavior program; the Social Service-Oriented award for the Center for Autism and Neurodiversity, Obra Para Karing Matwa ampon PWDs, and Migrants Advisory Information Network; the Emergency and Disaster Management Excellence award for the city's 24/7 Disaster Management networks and CDRRMO volunteer accreditation; and the Tech Territory award for citizen-centric platforms like the Fernandino Citizens' Portal, the Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance and Resolution Tracking System, and the iRESPOND infrastructure.
A Collective Victory for the Fernandino Spirit
Prior to the awarding rites, the event featured an intellectual forum highlighting urban resilience and financial transparency amidst rising national climate challenges, including earthquakes, localized flooding, and air quality concerns. Reflecting on the historic sweep, Mayor Caluag credited the monumental achievement to the relentless, unified synergy across all local government departments, working hand-in-hand with Vice Mayor Aurelio Brenz Gonzales and the members of the 9th Sangguniang Panlungsod. By converting complex urban blueprints into actionable, transparent public services, the local government of San Fernando has not just won accolades—it has provided a brilliant, scalable blueprint for model townships all across the Philippine republic.
