CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The prestigious worldwide organization Superbrands Marketing International (SMI) has named Mayor Edwin Santiago as one of the recipients of the 2015 Most Outstanding Mayors Award (MOMA).
This is the first time that Santiago, former vice-mayor and first termer mayor, was chosen by SMI, the only international award-giving body on marketing and branding in the Philippines. A Superbrand pays tribute to the strongest brands in the country. It is currently promoting more than 14,000 brands and is present in 88 countries world-wide. The MOMA promotes the works of the mayors for their singular or collective efforts toward nation building.
Along with Santiago in the MOMA group are Kapampangans third time awardee Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and also first time awardee Arayat Mayor Emmanuel “Bon” Alejandrino. In the roster too, are Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Lipa City Mayor Meynard Sabili, Ozamis City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and Cauayan City Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy.
According to SMI, "A mayor who has already achieved the brand as Good and for Outstanding already enjoys the Better among the Good. But with ‘Most Outstanding,’ the award is for successes achieved.”
“We are very much elated and happy over this SMI award we are going to receive. It is a gauge of where we are now and where we are headed as we aspire to fulfill what we are mandated for Fernandinos,” Santiago told Sun.Star Pampanga.
The mayor, known for his “Fernandino First” advocacy, added that what is taking place in San Fernando -- like being awarded recently by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the most business friendly city in the country after becoming a hall of famer -- is the corroboration of various sectors and the city’s partners in governance and development.
“Everything happening in the city is a corroborative undertaking of our partners and stakeholders like the private sector spearheaded by PamCham (Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry,Inc.), non-government organizations, the MultiSectoral Governance Council, City Council, barangays, and city government employees and department heads who are committed to serve Fernandinos,” he said.
“It’s all because of them that we are moving towards one direction with programs that are coherent and aligned with that of the provincial and national government. And this upcoming award will be a guide for us towards that direction and areas for improvement. For this, we are deeply grateful to our partners,” furthered Santiago. (JTD)