LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (PIA) — The city of Santa Rosa in Laguna is leading the charge for the smart city revolution in CALABARZON, becoming the first local government unit in the region to pursue international certification for smart city development.
DOST CALABARZON Regional Director Emelita Bagsit said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas that the city’s cutting-edge digital initiatives and sustainable urban solutions is setting it as the benchmark for other cities aiming for digital transformation.
“Just two weeks ago, we signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the City of Santa Rosa that they will undergo a certification under the international accreditation in the United Kingdom for this smart city initiative transformation. If all goes well, they will be the first city in Southeast Asia to be certified,” Bagsit said.
Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities program of DOST in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Development Academy of the Philippines is an initiative aimed at integrating technology, innovation, and sustainability into urban development across the Philippines.
It focuses on digital transformation, environmental conservation, and disaster resilience to improve the quality of life for citizens.
The program is also part of the broader Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Aside from Santa Rosa, four towns in the Calabarzon region are also making significant strides toward becoming smart and sustainable cities and communities through integrating technology and innovation to enhance urban living while promoting environmental responsibility.
“For the SSCP or smart and sustainable city program here in Calabarzon, we have Carmona, Cavite, Lipa City in Batangas, we have Taytay in Rizal in Quezon and we are working with Lucena City,” the director stated.
To avoid digital divide among communities, the science department also works on a recognition program for smart cities, which will categorize and acknowledge LGUs based on their level of digital transformation and technological adoption.
Bagsit explained: “DOST will also be introducing the official recognition of smart cities that have been enrolled across all provinces. LGUs will be categorized or re-recognized based on their progress in digital transformation, ensuring that each one receives the necessary assistance to bridge the digital gap.”
The DOST director said that they will assist LGUs in securing funding, research support, and technology deployment as the department encourages more local governments to embrace digitalization, as smart cities are seen as key drivers of economic and social development.
DOST believes that with these advancements, CALABARZON is on track to becoming a hub for smart and sustainable cities in Southeast Asia. (AM/PIA-4A)
