The city of Manila has earned international recognition for turning maps and live data into a public-safety tool. At the Seoul Smart City Prize 2026, Manila won the silver award in the tech-innova city category, sharing the honor with Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Madrid took gold in the category, while Cuenca (Ecuador), Granada (Spain) and Konya (Turkey) received bronze.
The system behind the award
The prize recognized the Manila Innovation Integrated GIS and Data Hub, which combines digital mapping, spatial analysis and real-time data monitoring. The city uses it to manage floods, fires and other emergencies across its six districts.
Beyond disaster response, the hub can support public safety, sustainable environment management and inclusive economic growth, according to the city.
City officials received the award in Seoul, South Korea. The delegation included Ramon Jefferson Verano, officer-in-charge of the electronic data processing services under the Office of the Mayor and concurrent chief of the hub, and Arnel Eustacio Angeles, director of the Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department. The hub sits under that department's special projects section.
"Manila belongs on the world stage"
Mayor Isko Moreno credited the city's GIS team and disaster risk reduction personnel for years of work behind the win, saying the award shows Manila "belongs on the world stage."
He also framed the spending as a safety investment. Putting money into technology like GIS, he said, goes toward protecting Manileños when disasters strike.
Why it matters
For a dense, flood-prone capital, faster and more accurate information can shape how quickly responders act. Manila's recognition also shows that local governments, not only startups and national agencies, are building tools that earn a place in global rankings.
Details such as the hub's budget, how it is staffed, and which specific emergencies it has helped manage were not part of the announcement. Those would make a strong follow-up for a deeper look at how the system works on the ground.
Source: https://www.philstar.com/nation/2026/10/07/2561410/manila-bags-silver-smart-city-award