MMDA, DOTC support Vigan ‘Wonder Cities’ bid

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) are supporting the campaign of Vigan City in the New7 Wonder Cities of the World search.

Edgar de la Cruz, Vigan tourism officer, said they have secured MMDA’s approval to install campaign materials like tarpaulins along Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares to further generate support for the city in the global search. 

De la Cruz added that the DOTC also allowed the setting up of various advocacy materials in all of the country’s airports and seaports aimed at making more Filipinos aware of Vigan’s ongoing campaign.

The capital city of Ilocos Sur, Vigan, famous for its well preserved centuries-old structures, is the lone Philippine nominee for a slot in the New7 Wonder Cities of the World. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“Vigan will now bring the campaign to a bigger platform. We will make Vigan’s presence felt on the national stage,” De la Cruz said.

The city government intensified its bid in the global search after Vigan made it to the first qualifying round last July 7 where it landed among the top 21 from the original 28 qualifiers from all over the world.

 “If Vigan was not felt much before the initial round of eliminations, this time the city will be all over the place until we get to the (final 7 list),” said De la Cruz. 

Besides Vigan, those included in the first qualifying round are Bangkok, Barcelona, Beirut, Chicago, Doha, Durban, Havana, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, La Paz, London, Mendoza, Mexico City, Mumbai, Perth, Quito, Reykjavik, Saint Petersburg, Seoul, and Shenzhen.

City officials called on Filipinos here and abroad to continue voting for Vigan by texting VIGAN to 292-90777 or through the website www.new7wonders.com. Vigan has to hurdle three qualifying phases for it to be included in the final list.

For the second phase, only 14 cities will remain and voting will be until Oct. 7. Voting for the final phase will be from Oct. 7 to December.

“Let this be a journey where every Filipino shall join hands to bring pride to our country. Let us go beyond the border of our nation to achieve our goal,” said Vigan Mayor Eva Marie Medina.

Earlier, Sen. Loren Legarda also joined the city’s campaign. “The best practices that the people of Vigan have carried out to preserve history and promote culture while working toward sustainable development should be emulated and recognized. I call on Filipinos to support Vigan City’s bid to be one of the New7 Wonder Cities,” she said.

The city, according to Legarda, deserves to be included in the list not only to bring honor to the country but also to set a good example to other cities on how history and culture can stand out amid modernity.

“The carefully preserved centuries-old structures in the historic city of Vigan bring people back in time, but the city’s prosperity tells us that the citizens and the government of this UNESCO World Heritage Site have worked well and made good use of its autonomy,” she said.