NEGROS Occidental Third District Representative Jose Francisco "Kiko" Benitez and his nephew, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel "Javi" Benitez, who is also the president of the Negros Occidental Association of City Executives (ACE), were among the participants representing the country in the four-day 8th World Cities Summit at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore that ended on August 3, 2022.

The local chief executives, business leaders, and knowledge experts from all over the world have come together in Singapore for the intensive discussions on how to help global cities remain liveable, sustainable, and more resilient through prolonged and predictable disruptions.

The younger Benitez is also the focal mayor for youth development of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) and representative of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Young Business Leaders.

Meanwhile, the lawmaker is the chair of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development in the 19th Congress.

The two officials participated in the workshop engagements on five major areas -- sustainable financing, smart cities, development and planning, urban resilience, and liveable future cities.

This will aid the cities to emerge stronger with challenges like the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and climate change and many more in the future.