Eastern Samar’s capital, Borongan City, is taking a big leap as it could very well be the first smart city in Eastern Visayas.
With the objective to harness smart and sustainable technologies and practices in the country, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in collaboration with Isabela State University (ISU) - Cauayan Campus and LGU-Cauayan City conducted the region’s first Smart City Assessment and Roadmap Formulation from May 10-12, 2023.
Borongan City was affirmed to have the potential to better its agenda on agriculture, education, healthcare, and other category sectors.
Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda said the plan was the result of the offer of the International Smart City Exposition and Networking Engagement 2023 (iSCENE2023). This opportunity was also presented to other regions of the country to give them the chance to implement and adopt various smart and sustainable initiatives.
"The implementation of this project aims to promote good governance and transparency. Technology adaptation will make public service more efficient and will make civil servants more accountable to the people they serve,” Agda said.
Collaborative effort
Bringing the vision to reality is a collaborative effort from various agencies and institutions who expressed their commitment from start to finish.
Already, Agda said, his department heads created an initial plan and roadmap to address current and future challenges in healthcare, education, infrastructure, security, and agriculture.
The city executive also emphasized the significance of the agriculture sector in the city and how the Smart City initiative could help it grow and develop.
Agda mentioned the Dukwag Agriculture Mapping Project, a unique aspect of the Smart City initiative that aims to create a comprehensive database of the city's agricultural resources, including land use and soil analysis, to help farmers make informed decisions and improve their yields.
Eastern Samar State University is committed to support the program by providing technical assistance and leading the research and development of the advancement initiatives in addition to the support from Smart and Sustainable Communities Coordinator in Region 8, Dr. Arnaldo T. Amosco Jr., Provincial S&T Director for DOST Eastern Samar, and DOST's Melvin Sacmar.
Pioneering efforts
Being the first LGU in Eastern Visayas to take on the smart city development goal, the region could witness Borongan’s pioneering efforts in pursuing innovative and sustainable development initiatives in this transformative journey and leading the charge toward a smarter and more connected future.
The city’s visionary officials who were not afraid to take a risk may put Borongan a step ahead of the other cities in Region 8, including Tacloban City, the only highly urbanized city in the region