DOST launches Cagayan Valley Smarter City Belt

Tuguegarao City–The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has successfully launched the Cagayan Valley Smarter City Belt.

DOST Region 2 Director Engr. Sancho Mabborang said the first of project of its kind in the locale, with the theme “Exploring New Growth through Innovation and Nurturing Engagement of Smart Solutions” (ENGINES), aims for the belt and road in the region to be interconnected, paving the way for the Region to embrace progress and improvements.

“If we all work together in nurturing Cagayan Valley, it is possible to make every city in the region, a smart city although achieving the vision is not easy, but it is possible,” Mabborang said as he presented virtually along with Region 2’s local executives and LGUs.

Included in the smarter city belt are the cities of Cauayan, Tuguegarao, Ilagan, Santiago, and the local government unit of Bayombong, Solano, Maddela, Diffun, Cabarroguis, Lallo and Basco in Batanes.

To date, there are three cities considered as “smarter cities,” Cauayan, Tuguegarao and Santiago while the others are on their way for inclusion in the list, Mabborang added.

DOST Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Pena emphasized that smarter cities are those utilizing the technologies developed by DOST and by the local government.

“Cagayan Valley Smarter City Belt is anchored on the DOST and Philippine basic framework for smart sustainable communities and cities,” Dela Pena stressed.

It was in 2015, he recalled, when Cauayan City in Isabela was declared the first smart city in Region 2.

Mabborang emphasized the DOST is hopeful to create a synergy and collaboration between smaller and bigger cities, municipalities as well as provinces in the region, citing Cauayan City of Isabela under Mayor Bernard Faustino M. Dy as the prime mover of science in Region 2.

He also quoted Henry Ford of Ford Motors, who said that “if everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”

The program wants every city to be “future-ready” through the latest technologies and innovations coming from the state colleges, universities, and higher education institutions as well and from the research and development centers in the region.

Kok-Chin Tai, Chairman of Smart Cities Network of Singapore, declared his message of support to the Cagayan Valley Smarter City Belt launch, and looks forward to the program becoming “a catalyst for international collaborations with our ASEAN neighbors.”

Tai expressed concern on the Philippines being the most exposed country in Southeast Asia in terms of disasters.

“I hope that I will work with the Cagayan Valley Smarter City Belt initiative and it will become the pioneer of technology as solutions to disaster preparedness,” Tai said.

He congratulated DOST for a “visionary effort to bring the cities to level up, not only to help the cities but to improve the living condition of the people, to minimize the impact of climate change, typhoon and storms.”

Cagayan 3rd District Rep. Joseph L. Lara reiterated his commitment to fully support the turning of Cagayan Valley into a smarter city belt.

“For whatever funding that will sustain the Cagayan Valley Smarter City Belt, I assure you of my support and you can count on me to back up its necessary backing,” he said.