ILOILO City – Determined to prove that its 2020–2022 accolade was no fluke, Iloilo City is making a fresh bid to regain the prestigious ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award, with national tourism officials conducting a thorough validation of the city’s compliance with regional cleanliness and sustainability standards.
On July 25, a team from the Department of Tourism (DOT) Central Office, headed by Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Marissa Victoria Claustro, conducted site inspections and evaluations as part of the assessment for the 2025–2027 award cycle.
The validation included checks on environmental management practices, public spaces, air quality, solid waste disposal systems, and tourism infrastructure across the city. The ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award recognizes cities that demonstrate excellence in cleanliness, environmental protection, waste management, and urban livability — factors seen as essential in attracting both tourists and residents.
“This award is given to cities that have consistently met the standards for environmental management, cleanliness, waste management, and overall livability, making them attractive not only to tourists but also to residents,” the Iloilo City Government said in an official post.
City offices, including the General Services Office, City Planning and Development Office, and the Iloilo City Police Office, participated in the validation process by presenting documentation and accompanying the validators on a rolling tour of various urban sites.
Iloilo City previously earned the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award for 2020–2022. For the upcoming cycle, it is competing once again with other Western Visayas contenders, including San Carlos and Sipalay cities in Negros Occidental./PN
