Conceptual renderings and prototype images of Pasig City’s proposed floating parks project, recognized as a winner in the Bloomberg Philanthropies 2025–2026 Mayors Challenge. The initiative aims to create community-designed public spaces along urban waterways while enhancing flood resilience. (Image courtesy of Bloomberg Philanthropies and the City Government of Pasig; conceptual rendering credits to PGAA and ALAO.)
MANILA — Pasig City has been named one of 24 global winners of the 2025–2026 Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, securing a $1 million grant and implementation support for a proposal centered on floating public parks along urban waterways.
The award was announced Feb. 24 by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the philanthropic organization founded by former New York mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. The Mayors Challenge is an international competition that supports municipal governments in testing and scaling innovative solutions to local problems.
According to the foundation’s official release, the latest round drew more than 630 applications worldwide. Fifty finalist cities advanced to a prototyping phase before 24 were selected as winners. Each winning city will receive $1 million in funding, along with technical assistance and support for dedicated staff to implement their projects.
A climate-responsive urban design proposal
Pasig’s winning proposal focuses on co-designing floating parks with residents in flood-prone waterways. The concept aims to create additional public open space while helping manage overflow in densely populated areas along the Pasig River system.
The city government has described the initiative as both an environmental and community-building intervention, intended to strengthen social ties while addressing recurring urban flooding risks. The prototyping phase included consultations with residents, local stakeholders, and technical partners to test feasibility and refine implementation plans.
Bloomberg Philanthropies said winning proposals were evaluated based on originality, potential impact, and the strength of their execution strategies.
Global field of winners
The 24 selected cities span 20 countries and collectively represent more than 35 million residents, according to the foundation. Projects address a range of urban priorities, including public health access, infrastructure modernization, emergency preparedness, waste management reform, and expansion of green spaces.
In addition to financial support, the winning cities will gain access to a global network of municipal leaders and policy experts who will provide technical guidance during implementation.
Local governance context
Pasig City, led by Mayor Vico Sotto, has previously emphasized participatory governance and community engagement in its development planning. The floating parks proposal aligns with that framework by incorporating resident input into both design and management phases.
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, first launched in 2013, is designed to encourage experimentation at the city level. The foundation has stated that while national governments and private sectors often invest heavily in research and development, local governments frequently operate with limited discretionary funding for innovation.
Pasig’s selection marks one of the Philippines’ most prominent recent recognitions in a global municipal innovation competition.
