MAASIN CITY (PIA) — The chief of the Department of Science and Technology in Eastern Visayas led the ceremonial turnover of a check for P1.6 million, representing the agency’s second-year grant to the local government of Maasin City.
The funding support will finance the project, “Science, Technology, Innovation Ecosystem Development Towards Smart and Sustainable Maasin City.”
Regional Director John Glenn Ocaña said Smart City is one of the DOST programs, a technology-driven way of doing things such as easing traffic flow to reduce congestion, installing early warning systems for improved disaster preparedness and enhancing online platforms for better governance and delivery of services.
The turnover rites were held on Thursday, March 6, at the Citizens’ Anti-Drug Abuse Council building in Barangay Combado, Maasin City, attended by City Mayor Nacional Mercado, Rep. Luz Mercado of the province’s first district and former DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado.
Also present were City Councilor Michael Mercado, chairperson of the city council’s ICT Committee; DOST Provincial Director Ramil Uy and city heads of offices.
One million of the P1.6 million fund came from the DOST, while P600,000 came from the city government as counterpart, Ocaña said during the ceremony.
He said the project will deepen citizens’ engagement in various programs of the local government unit, making the city a well-managed place that is conducive to work, invest and eventually progress.
Analee Lucin, 35, a housewife living in Barangay Combado with a sideline online part-time job, was thrilled upon learning of the DOST intervention.
“Maajo unta pohon og naay transaksayon sa city o sa bisan asang agency anha na lang sa cellphone, ug unta mo-barato na ang internet connection sa atong mga bay,” Lucin said. (Hopefully in the future, if one has a transaction in the city or any other government agency, this will be done in one’s cellular phone. And hopefully the cost of internet connection in our homes can be reduced.)
Last year, the DOST released P500,000 as initial funding for the four-year project, the money mostly used for brainstorming sessions and capacity building-related activities.
The four-year undertaking focuses on providing resources, including access to stable connectivity, that would eventually level up delivery of public services, streamline systems processes and usher in sustainable growth. (MMP/PIA Southern Leyte)
