The third Liveable Cities Lab for 2025, themed “Sustain+ability”, focused on how cities can build better governance to improve urban life. Held on July 23, the session brought together a diverse mix of voices from government, media, the private sector, and civil society.

Yenny Gonzales, Project Director of Liveable Cities Philippines, hosted and moderated the lab. Discussions tackled key issues such as transparency, citizen engagement, competitiveness, digital tools for local governments, leadership guided by metrics, and sustainable development.

Among the speakers were Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who shared the city’s strategy for sustainable urban growth, and Dr. Jesus Estanislao, who emphasized the value of metrics-driven leadership. Pia Ranada of Rappler highlighted the importance of citizen participation in promoting transparency. Karlmarx Rubia of Globe talked about the role of digital tools in improving accountability. Vice Mayor Ferdie Estrella of Baliwag City, through a video message, shared how competitive governance can drive meaningful city transformation beyond rankings.

The lab reinforced the need for sustained and inclusive efforts to improve governance in our cities. By working together, we can find real, practical solutions that make our communities more liveable for all.