Cagayan Valley adapts smart cities initiatives

By Leander Domingo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya -- The regional office of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) launched the Cagayan Valley Smarter City Belt, a program that identifies cities and municipalities that are advancing smart city efforts.
    DoST regional director Sancho Mabborang said the concept aims to build the “belt” and “road,” which means more digital connectivity throughout the region and later on linking with other smart cities in the country.
    Science Sec. Mario Montejo declared Cauayan City as the first smart city in Cagayan Valley (Region 2) in 2015.
    During the program’s launch on Tuesday, Mabborang mentioned three other chartered cities that are gearing to become smart cities — Tuguegarao City in Cagayan and Ilagan and Santiago cities in Isabela.
    He cited emerging growth centers, such as the towns of Bayombong and Solano in Nueva Vizcaya; Cabarroguis, Maddela and Diffun in Quirino; Lal-lo and Santa Ana in Cagayan and Basco in Batanes.
    “With these cities and municipalities [go] the vision of establishing the Cagayan Valley Smarter City Belt,” Mabborang said.         These areas, he added, are seen to come up with smart solutions to their concerns through a program called “Exploring New     Growth through Innovation and Nurturing Engagement of Smart Solutions.”
    “These cities, municipalities and provinces in Region 2 will need each other and work together for the greater benefit of each other. They need to coexist with each other,” Mabborang said.
    “A very, very strong opportunity to build a collaborative set of smarter cities is where there is shared information across these cities to improve efficiency, effectiveness and quality of life,” he added.