Icon of Change International 2025 (H.E. Bernard Faustino La Madrid Dy - Ambassador to Switzerland)

Icons of Change Awards 2025

H.E. Bernard Faustino La Madrid Dy

Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Excellence in Smart Cities and Sustainable Diplomacy

---

From Smart Cities to Global Statesmanship: Honoring Ambassador Bernard Faustino Dy for Bridging Local Innovation with International Impact

In a world where urbanization often outpaces innovation, and where diplomacy must now engage not only with governments but with global challenges, His Excellency Bernard Faustino La Madrid Dy stands as a trailblazer whose legacy spans the local and the international, the pragmatic and the visionary.

Currently serving as the Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein, Ambassador Dy brings to the global stage a uniquely grounded ethos of leadership—one shaped by a decade of transformative governance as Mayor of Cauayan City, Isabela, and over two decades of active service in business, education, youth leadership, and community development.

As Mayor from 2013 to 2022, Ambassador Dy pioneered a bold initiative that placed Cauayan City on the global map: the Smart Sustainable Cities Program, a framework through which he aligned local development strategies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under his leadership, Cauayan became the first recognized Smart City in the Philippines in 2015 by the Department of Science and Technology. This was more than a technological feat—it was a paradigm shift, embedding innovation into the daily fabric of governance, citizen empowerment, environmental stewardship, and economic resilience.

With an inclusive approach to urban development, he integrated ICT, climate-conscious planning, and participatory governance to build a city that was not only digitally connected but deeply human-centered. Whether through streamlined digital services, e-governance tools, public health systems, or education access programs, every initiative was linked to a larger vision: that smart cities must also be sustainable, equitable, and inclusive.

Ambassador Dy’s leadership was duly recognized on both national and international stages. In 2022, he was a finalist in the Changemaker category of the United Nations SDG Action Awards, a testament to his dedication to localizing global goals with measurable results. He has also received accolades such as The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM 2018), Most Outstanding Mayor (2014–2018) by Superbrands Marketing International, and Science Ambassador (2015) by the Department of Science and Technology—each a reflection of his deep-seated commitment to data-driven governance and people-first public service.

Even prior to his government service, Ambassador Dy was already shaping ecosystems for growth and empowerment. He co-founded the University of Perpetual Help System in Isabela, led the Isabela Hotel and Resort, and remains the CEO of B.G.D. Farm, demon