When you hear the term “smart city,” images of futuristic skylines, self-driving EVs, and AI-run traffic lights might come to mind. But in the Philippines, being “smart” is more about function than flash—and local government units (LGUs) are proving that you don’t need towering tech to make meaningful change.
From disaster-resilient towns to data-powered planning hubs, LGUs are using science and technology to solve everyday problems, and their efforts are being recognized on a national scale.
Santiago City: Smart starts with research
One such city is Santiago in Isabela, a contender in the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Smart and Sustainable Communities (SSC) Awards 2025. Their approach? Put science to work.
“Nare-recognize yung initiatives namin specific doon sa technology na ginagamit namin for mapping lalo na yung GIS and also yung data management na ginagamit namin and then yung translation into specific plans, programs and activities using digital technology,” shared Planning Officer Jonathan S. Uy in an interview with DOST.
Santiago’s smart push goes beyond digital dashboards. It includes the launch of the Research and Innovation for Sustainable Empowerment Center (RISE-C). The facility, developed in partnership with Isabela State University, serves as a collaborative hub for solving real-world issues in agriculture, education, climate action, and more.
RISE-C aims to empower faculty, students, and agencies alike by promoting interdisciplinary research and innovation. It’s a vision of a smart city where science doesn’t just sit on paper. It gets to work in the streets.
Prieto Diaz: Where smart means safe and nourished
Over in Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon, the stakes are even higher. Facing the Pacific Ocean and located just 150 kilometers from the Philippine Trench, the town is extremely vulnerable to tsunamis.
“Bilang bayan na delikado talaga sa Tsunami, naka-face kasi kami sa Pacific Ocean, na kung saan andoon yung Philippine trench. Approximately nasa 150 kilometers kami mula sa Philippine trench na maaring mag-generate ng tsunami,” said Rafael Ryan D. Bayoca, head of the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) office.
This geographical reality has pushed the LGU to level up its disaster preparedness systems and earned it a nomination for the SSC Awards.
But there’s more. Prieto Diaz also shines in the health space. In a bid to address child malnutrition, the town rolled out a feeding program using locally produced soya milk and DOST’s coco-based nutrition products.
“Of the 100 undernourished children being studied, 85 percent improved their nutrition status,” reported Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Fernando B. Detecio.
These tangible outcomes helped Prieto Diaz earn the title of Best CEST Community at the regional level in 2024, putting it on the national map for this year’s awards.
What really makes a city “Smart”?
According to the DOST, a smart city is one that “leverages technology and innovation to enhance urban functionality, sustainability, and livability, making it more responsive to its inhabitants.”
That means it’s not just about fancy tech, but how that tech is used to improve everyday life, services, systems, and citizen wellbeing included.
In 2022, the DOST rolled out the Expanded Framework on the Development of Smart, Resilient, and Sustainable Cities and Communities. It emphasizes indicators like education, governance, mobility, health, inclusion, infrastructure, and more.
Cauayan City: The OG smart city
Let’s not forget Cauayan City, also in Isabela, which earned the title of “first smart city in the Philippines” back in 2015. It set the tone by launching public Wi-Fi across 65 barangays, a city app, a citizen ID system, and a Digital Farmers Program.
The common thread? Accessibility and community empowerment—two essential building blocks of any truly smart city.
A nationwide shift
The momentum is building. As of 2024, 91 LGUs have joined DOST’s Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP) exceeding the agency’s initial target of 80. An additional 10 to 15 cities are already on the waitlist.
And it’s not just DOST taking notice. A joint survey by the DILG and World Bank in 2023 found that:
▪️70% of 115 urban LGUs are preparing for smart city development
▪️61% already have ongoing smart initiatives
▪️56% have supporting policies in place
Where the ecosystem meets: iSCENE
One major catalyst for these initiatives is iSCENE, the International Smart City Exposition and Networking Engagement. This annual gathering hosted in the Philippines brings together LGUs, researchers, scientists, and industry leaders to explore solutions for smarter governance.
“Now, ang kagandahan dito, in this iSCENE, hindi lamang ito yung exhibition, conduct of fora at hindi lamang ito yung memorandum of agreement. But more important part and something that is of great value is yung networking. Dito kasi nagkikita yung let’s say academe, industry experts, researchers, scientists and engineers and they not only engage but they mingle, and they connect. And at the end of the day, ang importante dito yung way forward,” said DOST Undersecretary Sancho Mabborang.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum echoed the sentiment, “Reflecting on iSCENE’s journey, I am in awe of how far we’ve come. When we first launched iSCENE, our goal was simple yet bold: to create a space where we could come together, regardless of our backgrounds, to explore what it means to build a truly smart community… Three years later, iSCENE is no longer just a concept—it’s a national benchmark and a regional beacon for innovation-driven governance and community development.”
Smart cities are built with purpose, not just tech
From rural towns tackling malnutrition to urban centers digitizing governance, LGUs across the Philippines are redefining what it means to be a smart community.
With support from agencies like DOST and platforms like iSCENE, local innovations are gaining national traction and proving that tech works best when it’s rooted in the needs of the people.
