The municipality of Lagoa played a central role in the IV Social City Congress, an event that gathered around 400 participants from across the country. The congress took place between the Lagoa Congress Centre and the Portimão Museum, on October 1st and 2nd, bringing together mayors, leaders, and municipal technicians.
The Lagoa Congress Centre served as the main venue on the first day, reaffirming its capacity as a reference space for hosting national-level events. For the Municipality of Lagoa, the initiative represented a significant moment of recognition for its work, culminating in the awarding of several Municipal Excellence Awards.
The distinguished projects covered various areas of intervention. In the Sports sector, the programs Férias Ativas+, Viva+ Ginástica, and the GAPAAF – Gabinete de Aconselhamento para a Alimentação e Atividade Física were recognized. In Social Action, the programs Rede Sénior and Lagoa Acolhe stood out. The Culture area was represented by the NOC – Núcleo de Olaria e Cerâmica. In the Youth and Education areas, the Festa da Juventude, Lagoa a Ler e a Contar, and the Projeto Mãos na Arte received awards. In the Free Theme category, the projects Cidades Geminadas Lagoa (Algarve e Açores) and Caminhadas ao Luar were honored, along with the Campos de Férias and the Programas de Atividade Física Sénior.
Luís Encarnação, President of the Lagoa Municipal Council, emphasized that the recognition is primarily for the people and the municipality's workers. "It is a recognition of the people, particularly the workers of the Lagoa Municipal Council, and all collaborators, who work every day to make Lagoa a closer, more inclusive, active municipality with more opportunities for everyone," he stated. He also expressed pride in hosting an event of this magnitude in the municipality.
The IV Social City Congress, an initiative promoted in partnership with the Municipalities of Lagoa and Portimão, served as a platform for reflection, sharing experiences, and valuing good municipal practices in Portugal. For Lagoa, the event reinforces its position as a territory capable of hosting major national events and as a municipality with public policies recognized for their quality and social impact.
