Marikina gets 3 WHO awards at healthy cities conference

MANILA, Philippines – Marikina garnered three awards from the World Health Organization (WHO) at the Third Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC) held recently in Ichikawa City, Japan. The awards are for Outstanding Healthy City, Best Practice (Climate Change and Health) for its bicycle-friendly roads project, and Pioneers in Healthy Cities for Mayor Marides Fernando. The awards rites were led by Dr. Shigeru Omi, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific. The Regional Director’s Award, the highest honor that the WHO confers on a local government unit, recognized Marikina’s implementation of the Healthy Cities approach. The Best Practice Award commends undertakings that address health concerns and enhance the quality of life of citizens while reducing the harmful effects on the environment. The Award for Pioneers in Healthy Cities is the highest recognition that the AFHC gives to individuals or groups for their exemplary contribution to expanding healthy cities worldwide. The conference was held from October 23 to 26. In a statement, Fernando said the honors would spur her administration to keep coming up with projects that will further improve the well-being of Marikina residents and keep the environment health. Marikina is a founding member AFHC, an international network of cities, healthy communities, and other allied organizations aimed at protecting and enhancing the health of city dwellers. In 2006, Marikina was also cited by the WHO as one the eight Pacific cities for outstanding achievements. - GMANews.TV