May 16, 2023 – The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. 2, headed by Regional Director, Dr. Virginia G. Bilgera, awarded P1M to LGU Dupax del Norte, led by Mayor Attorney Timothy Cayton and Vice Mayor Victorino V. Prado, Jr., in support of the implementation of the SMARTER Community Program for sustainable Dupax del Norte. 

The DOST Smarter City & Sustainable Community program is the agency’s initiative that strives to encourage the development of sustainable cities/communities throughout the country. The program’s goal is to use science, technology, and innovation to make cities and communities more livable, resilient, and inclusive. 

Mayor Cayton stated in his remarks during the awarding that the DOST program is timely and essential for fulfilling the LGU’s vision and mission. He went on to say that once the program is implemented, they will be able to deliver their services to their clients faster and with less bureaucracy. He stated that LGU Dupax del Norte will embrace the program and implement it to the best of its capacity. 

In her message, RD Virginia Bilgera challenged LGU Dupax del Norte and also highlighted two aspects of developing a smarter community: 1) the application of ICT in service delivery to accelerate service delivery; and 2) the commercialization and adoption of technology. She emphasized that the agency had made many innovations in collaboration with its partner agencies, and it is now time for these technologies to be deployed, commercialized, and adopted by the communities. She also stated that by using SMARTER technologies, SMARTER governance, SMARTER agriculture, and so on, we will be able to achieve or address all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

Participants during the Awarding of 1M at LGU Dupax del Norte

Other partner agencies, including Saint Mary’s University, led by Ms. Essel T. Canaveral, CICT Director, and Nueva Vizcaya State University, led by Dr. Maribel Bacena, were also present during the awarding and inception meetings and presented their ICT initiatives and other SMARTER community-related projects. They also expressed their willingness to assist LGU Dupax del Norte in its mission to become a SMARTER community. 

Following the conception meeting, a road mapping session was scheduled for LGU Dupax del Norte, DOST, and other stakeholders to develop the municipality’s Smarter Community Roadmap. 

LGU Dupax del Norte will be the first in the province of Nueva Vizcaya to adopt the initiative.