The local government of Lipa City in Batangas province is gearing up to enhance governance through a strategic alignment with the Department of Science and Technology in Region 4A (DOST-Calabarzon).

DOST-4A Regional Director Emelita Bagsit and Lipa City Mayor Eric Africa have formalized their commitments to implement the Innovation, Science, and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-Based Development (iSTART) and Smart and Sustainable Communities (SSC) programs.

These initiatives are seen to propel Lipa City towards becoming a smart city.

In an interview on Monday, John Maico Hernandez, information officer of the Batangas Provincial Science and Technology Office, said the iSTART program is crucial in aligning local development plans with advanced technological solutions.

“This partnership marks Lipa City as the pioneer among Batangas province cities to embark on such transformative programs,” Hernandez said.

The initiative includes a series of workshops and seminars aimed at revisiting and updating Lipa City’s local development plans to integrate S&T solutions.

On the other, the SSC program aims to assist local government units in developing and implementing initiatives that are aligned with their plans, including technical assistance for roadmap development.

The collaborative effort signifies a progressive step toward harnessing technology for sustainable urban development, setting a precedent for other cities in the region to follow, Hernandez said. (PNA)