Iloilo City mayor, finalist at 2014 World Mayor awards

MANILA, Philippines – Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog was chosen as one of the finalists for this year’s World Mayor award.

Mabilog was named by international think tank City Mayors Foundation as one of its 26 finalists for the most outstanding city mayor in the world award for 2014. He, along with the other finalists, were selected among the original longlist of 121 nominated city mayors.

“I am humbled by this nomination along with the overwhelming support of our fellow Ilonggos. We will grab this opportunity to push our beloved Iloilo City as a global destination and one of the premier cities of the Philippines,” Mabilog said in a statement posted in his Facebook page.

Mabilog is serving his second consecutive term as Iloilo City mayor. He was elected city councilor in 2004, and city vice mayor in 2007.

According to the Iloilo City government website, Mabilog is credited for initiatives such as the Iloilo City Investment and Incentives Code, the annual search for outstanding women and student leaders in the city, the annual conduct of small storeowners convention and trade fairs, among other programs.

The nomination was made by accomplishing an online nomination form, in which an individual has to state the reasons for nominating the city official of his or her choice. Nominations were held until May 2014.

The original longlist of 121 initial candidates included the following mayors from the Philippines:

• Edgardo Pamintuan, Angeles City
• Ferdinand M. Amante, Butuan City
• Rodrigo Duterte, Davao City
• Jed Patrick Mabilog, Iloilo City
• Juliet Marie Ferrer, La Carlota City
• Benjamin Abalos, Mandaluyong City

Voting for the finalists is done by emailing the foundation a thoughtful testimonial to support the candidate. For Mabilog, testimonials may be sent to iloilo@worldmayor.com.

Deadline for voting will be on October 31. The winner will be determined and announced by the City Mayors Foundation on January 2015.

Since the establishment of the awards in 2004, 6 nominated city mayors from the Philippines made it among the finalists, 4 of them ranking among the top 10:

• 2005: Oscar Rodriguez of San Fernando, Pampanga (now Pampanga representative), ranked 4th
• 2006: Jejomar Binay of Makati City (now Philippine vice president), ranked 4th
• 2006: Carmelo Lazatin of Angeles City, Pampanga (lost mayoral bet in 2013), finalist
• 2008: Marides Fernando of Marikina City (lost mayoral bet in 2010), ranked 7th
• 2010: Jesse Robredo of Naga City, Camarines Sur (appointed Interior Secretary in 2010, died due to plane crash in 2012), finalist
• 2012: Edgardo Pamintuan of Angeles City (incumbent mayor), ranked 8th

Previous World Mayor awardees are:

• 2004: Edi Rama (Tirana, Albania)
• 2005: Dora Bakoyannis (Athens, Greece)
• 2006: John So (Melbourne, Australia)
• 2008: Helen Zille (Cape Town, South Africa)
• 2010: Marcelo Ebrard (Mexico City, Mexico)
• 2012: Iñaki Azkuna (Bilbao, Spain)

According to the Foundation, the award honors “mayors with the vision, passion and skills to make their cities incredible places to live in, work in and visit, and aims to “show what outstanding mayors can achieve.” – Rappler.com