QUEZON City aims to join the ranks of the world’s smartest cities through the efficient use of information technology and urban informatics to help improve the delivery of basic services to city residents.
Mayor Herbert Bautista described the city’s move as “one step closer” toward the goal of participative governance “wherein citizens interact to ensure services, transparency and development.”
He ordered the creation of a centralized online database of all public records and transactions, augmentation of traffic and urban solutions, provision of online sensors for critical facilities and infrastructure services as part of the city’s capability building.
According to Bautista, the city’s strategic pillars for the development of the Smart City are anchored on governance and administration; economic development; security, peace and disaster preparedness; infrastructure, housing and urban planning and development; policy and legal framework, environmental protection, climate change adaption and poverty reduction, social development and welfare as outlined in the 2016 to 2019 Information Systems Strategic Plan of Quezon City.
A smart city is an urban development vision designed to integrate information and communication technology and Internet of things (IoT) technology in a secure fashion to manage a city’s assets.
Based on the fourth edition of the “Cities in Motion Index” prepared by the IESE Center for Globalization and Strategy, the world’s smartest cities included New York, London, Paris, Boson, San Francisco, Washington DC, Seoul, Tokyo, Berlin and Amsterdam.
The Quezon City government has already introduced the use of information and communication technology in disaster risk reduction management, health programs and cashless credit scheme for the taxpayers can pay their taxes conveniently 24/7.
Meanwhile, QC’s investment in “underground” infrastructure proved to be a step in the right direction as floodwaters quickly receded after the heavy rains brought by tropical depression “Maring.”
According to the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, relief and clean up teams managed to get to flood-affected areas when knee-to-chest high floodwaters dropped to manageable levels as early as Tuesday noon.
The mitigation structures that Mayor Herbert Bautista had set up in areas traversed by the San Juan River facilitated the drainage of floodwaters, QC DRRMO chief Karl Michael Marasigan said.
“These areas used to get flooded for several hours or even days whenever it rains, but in the recent storm, it took only one to two hours for floodwaters to recede,” he said during the post-disaster assessment meeting of the QC DRRMO.
Drainage and waterways improvement is part of the overall public safety infrastructure investment that became a priority in the administration of Mayor Herbert Bautista.
Quezon City has completed 59 rip-raps, canal and retaining walls from the year 2015 to June 30, 2017 in Barangays Batasan Hills, Tatalon, Sta. Lucia, Bagong Silangan, Greater Fairview, Kalusugan, Sta. Monica, Apolonio Samson, Gulod, Payatas, Culiat, Holy Spirit, Damayan, Mariana, Quirino 2-A, Kamuning, Amihan, West Kamias, Bahay Toro, San Bartolome, Nova Proper, and West Triangle.
As of June 30, Quezon City Task Force Waterways has an ongoing 25 ripraps and retaining walls projects in Barangays West Triangle, Commonwealth, Bagong Silangan, Libis, Quirino 2-A, Valencia, Roxas, Fairview, Sta. Monica, Sta. Lucia, Baesa, Sauyo, Apolonio Samson and Culiat.
The ripraps and retaining walls also serve as an early warning to residents.