Calamba City, Laguna– The city government of Calamba in Laguna on Monday marked its 23rd year of cityhood, citing its accomplishments and milestones.
Recently, Calamba City was recognized as the least polluted city in the Philippines and the sixth cleanest city in the entire Southeast Asian region, in terms of air quality based on the 2023 IQAir World Air Quality Report.
Calamba City Mayor Roseller Rizal summed up the achievements of his administration in the past two years as evidence of good governance and effective public service.
In an interview with Manila Standard, he stressed the importance of collaboration in maintaining the inclusivity, sustainability, and progress of Calamba City.
“I am truly blessed with good people helping the City of Calamba to be better. Let us work together as Lagunenyos, leaders, and citizens,” he said.
Resources, Rizal said, should be used wisely to protect the environment and create a better future for incoming generations.
He said innovation can also fuel the city’s growth, entrepreneurship, and education. He assured that the increasing city’s income would enable the local government to expand public services.
Calamba is the top among the three cities in the Philippines that ranked among the cleanest in terms of air pollution levels in Southeast Asia, according to a 2023 international report on air quality.
The Swiss air-monitoring company IQAir’s 2023 World Air Quality Report provides a global review of air quality, citing PM2.5 air quality data from 7,812 cities spanning 134 countries, regions, and territories for 2023.
M2.5 concentration describes the amount of fine particulate aerosol particles up to 2.5 microns in diameter and is used as the standard air quality indicator for the World Air Quality Report. Measured in μg/m3, PM2. 5 is one of six major air pollutants commonly used in the classification of air quality.
Among the events at the 23rd Calamba Cityhood Anniversary celebration at the Jose Rizal Coliseum, in lieu of parades and floats, Rizal led the city officials and staff in the awarding of incentives for the Drug-Cleared Barangays; awarding of Medalists of Regional Athletics Association Meet; groundbreaking for the construction of Multi-Purpose Building that will house a dialysis center, diagnostics center, and sectoral offices; and blessing and inauguration of Rizal Building.