The capital town of Virac is one of 80 pilot areas in the Smart and Sustainable Communities (SMART) Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which was launched last week in Iloilo City.
Due to prior commitments, Mayor Samuel Laynes was unable to attend the National Forum on the program, which was one of the highlights of the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) last Nov. 22-26, 2023 at the Iloilo Convention Center.
Nevertheless, the chief executive reiterated his administration’s commitment to embark on Virac’s journey under SMART, described as a people-centric and technology-driven strategy to facilitate the development or transformation of communities to become smart, sustainable, resilient and inclusive, considering the uniqueness, readiness and growth potentials of each community.
The program aims to empower local government units (LGUs) in developing 80 technologically innovative communities, producing one million jobs in science and technology and support 500 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in adopting advanced technologies by 2028.
Through the program, the national government and the pilot LGUs hope to address important information, technology and communication issues, share ideas and accelerate innovation across the country.
“This calls for the transformation and/or creation of smart and sustainable communities to capitalize on digital transformation towards smarter government, smarter jobs, smarter industries and MSMEs, and smarter health care, among others,” the DOST stated.
During the 2023 NSTW, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. recognized the 80 SMART pilot areas, including six from the Bicol region: Legazpi City, Naga City, Sorsogon province, Virac, Labo in Camarines Sur, and Mandaon in Masbate.
Smart and sustainable communities, according to Sec. Solidum, are ideally open, collaborative, citizen-centric and digitally transformed, using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to address localized issues and improve quality of life.
To ensure a smooth and tightly-knit collaboration with stakeholders, DOST also formalized its partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).
The collaboration is in accordance with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the ASEAN Smart Cities Framework and the Philippine Development Plan.
In leading the program, DOST is working with regional directors in assessing the technological wants and needs of communities nationwide, including ensuring funds and providing the technologies demanded.
DAP is responsible for providing a comprehensive framework that LGUs may use as a blueprint for the transition to smart and sustainable communities, as well as the policy, process, and human capability levels of innovation.
Assessing LGUs is the first of the nine-step process that is based on the standards of the International Standards Organization for a smart community.
Besides holding offices and agencies in the program accountable, DILG will provide incentives such as cash grants and annual awards to entice LGUs to participate in the program.
In 2015, DOST declared Cauayan City, Isabela as the first smart city for being the first to implement the agency’s “Juan Time” campaign to synchronize time in offices and public establishments.
The city also launched its first electric-powered vehicle charging station, including electric tricycles in 2017, and adopted the Hybrid Electric Road Train in 2019.
Other smart cities include Metro Manila, Metro Clark, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. These cities have established e-government services and transactions, intelligent transport, traffic systems and security.
Among the technologies that DOST also developed are contactless apprehension for traffic violations (CATCHALL), solar-powered water pumping, purification and filtration systems, rainwater collector harvester and water distillation.
Meanwhile, DICT is looking at the program to support their Digital Cities PH program and increase their pool of Digital Cities and so-called Next Wave Cities that has so far generated 1.7 million digital jobs in the IT-Business Process Management (BPM) sector of the country.