UN picks Cagayan de Oro as ‘emerging city’

MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN Habitat) has chosen Cagayan de Oro as one of nine “emerging cities of tomorrow,” Rep. Rufus Rodriguez announced yesterday.

He said the cities were chosen during the recently concluded Seventh World Urban Forum in Medellin, Columbia, which the UN organized.

Rodriguez said the emerging cities were selected on the basis of their size, fast growth, significance as part of an urban cluster linked to cross-border exchange, and geographical variety.

“This recent recognition is a testament not only to the city leadership headed by Mayor Oscar Moreno but also to the Kagayanons, especially considering that the city was just battered and heavily damaged by Typhoon Sendong,” he said.

“The fact that we were able to rise up quickly and recover is a true indication that the leadership and people of Cagayan de Oro are very strong, dedicated and resilient. It is also a testament to the many different infrastructure projects that are being undertaken in the city which greatly contribute to its fast emergence and development,” he added.

Rodriguez said the UN Habitat took note of the development of the Cagayan de Oro By-Pass Road, a coastal road along Macajalar Bay financed by the government to help residents travel faster to the Cagayan de Oro port.

The other emerging cities are Johor Bahru on the straits of Johor separating Malaysia and Singapore, Tetouan in northern Morocco, Uberlandia in the state of Minas Gerais of Brazil, Hunchun in Jilin province in northeast China, Onitsha on the eastern bank of Niger River in Nigeria, Nampula in Mozambique, Malmo in the Oresund region in southern Sweden, and Santa Marta in northern Colombia. –Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star)