By John Maico Hernandez
To advance science-driven governance and accelerate digital transformation at the local level, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) met with the Local Government Unit of Lemery to discuss the municipality’s plan to become a smart city through the Innovation, Science, and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-Based Development (iSTART) and Smart and Sustainable Communities (SSC) programs at the Mayor’s Office, Municipal Hall of Lemery, Batangas, on January 21.
Lemery Mayor Ian Kenneth M. Alilio, Municipal Administrator Honorlito B. Solis, selected department heads, and the Mayor’s executive assistant attended the initial coordination meeting. Engr. Francisco R. Barquilla III, Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations of DOST CALABARZON, led the DOST delegation together with Ms. Felina C. Malabanan, Provincial Science and Technology Director of DOST Batangas; Mr. Mhark Ellgine A. Libao, Supervising Science Research Specialist; Mr. John Maico M. Hernandez, Senior Science Research Specialist; Ms. Mariel C. Caling, SSC focal person; and Mr. Patrick Isaiah O. Abarra, and iSTART focal person.
During the discussion, DOST presented the iSTART program as a strategic platform for aligning national science, technology, and innovation initiatives with local development plans. The program aims to accelerate regional growth by strengthening innovation ecosystems and will serve as the entry point for the implementation of the SSC Program, which focuses on building data-driven, efficient, and citizen-centered local governments.
Mayor Alilio expressed strong support for the proposed collaboration, noting that the iSTART and SSC programs align with his vision of ushering in a “New Lemery.” He emphasized that smart city initiatives can serve as a springboard for improving public service delivery, strengthening local governance, and positioning the municipality for sustainable and inclusive growth.
The meeting also featured discussions on DOST-developed information systems that local governments can adopt to streamline administrative processes, enhance productivity, and support evidence-based decision-making. These systems form part of DOST’s digital transformation interventions designed to modernize LGU operations and improve service efficiency.
Following Lipa City, Lemery is poised to become the second local government unit in Batangas to pursue smart city development through the iSTART and SSC programs. The initial meeting marked a significant step toward formalizing collaboration and identifying priority areas for technology-based interventions in the municipality.|
