IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The work for the Rama administration’s achieving its vision for Cebu City to become like Singapore has begun, and the mayor’s “investment begging” resulted in pledges of P1.3 billion from businessmen for the completion of the Cebu City Medical Center and construction of multiple medium-rise buildings that will house displaced informal settlers.

These funding commitments are “concrete pledges,” and the projects will be realized, Rama’s team assured the public.

Cebu retained its status as the country’s richest province for the 9th consecutive year in 2023. The Commission on Audit (COA) places its assets at P235.73 billion in 2022, with an increase of P20.43 billion from P215 billion in 2021.

This is largely through the growth of various industries including Tourism, Transportation, IT-BPM, Agricultural Sectors and Processing, Mining, Water, and Telecommunications that are supported by a skilled workforce, along with government infrastructure projects such as the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the Metro Cebu Expressway, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway that will bring additional growth in the years to come.

The Cebu City government is taking a significant step in its digitalization efforts by integrating Japanese technology into its fiber loop infrastructure project.

City officials gathered yesterday to officially launch the "Smart City Project: Fiber Loop Infrastructure." The initiative is expected to enhance online communication, streamline e-governance services, and strengthen cybersecurity measures across the city.

More than 7,000 access points across the Philippines will benefit from the government’s P1.4 billion free WiFi project and Cebu has been identified as the top priority area in the Visayas.

“This July, Free Wi-Fi will actually be piloted in areas in Cebu, along with areas in Metro Manila and Davao City,” said Monchito Ibrahim, Deputy Executive Director of the Department of Science and Technology Information and Communications Technolocy Office, who was in Cebu yesterday for the Cebu ICT-BPM Conference held at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel.

The community tax certificate or cedula can now be processed online through the Cebu City website for those who wish to avoid the time-consuming long lines to secure the document.

Veronica Morelos, the acting City Treasurer, said that website-based application had been running since March 2018 and could be accessed anytime through smartphones and computers.

The Cebu City Government’s goal for digital transformation gets a boost following an offer from a global tech giant and financial technology firm.

In a courtesy meeting with Mayor Nestor Archival, Huawei executives outlined their experience in deploying digital solutions across 700 cities worldwide.

Their proposals included intelligent traffic management systems, cloud-powered emergency services, and integrated one-stop shop platforms. A similar model has already been implemented in Makati accordingly.

MAYOR Jonas Cortes announced the installation of free WiFi in selected sites across Mandaue City during the "Istorya ta Bai: A Move for Good Governance and Transparency Forum" on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

In partnership with Craft Shack Inc. and ARTBI Global Philippine Corporation, the City aims to provide free WiFi in government open spaces.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has welcomed the proposal of adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in its traffic system as the city bids to become a smart city.

The proposal was made by Councilor Rey Gealon, the Traffic Management Committee chairperson.

Rama, in his own online program through the city’s Sugboanon channel, emphasized that the world is now adapting AI and it’s the way to go to level up.

Probably, in trying to impress their constituents or win elections, we hear local government executives harping about creating “smart cities” in their territories. More often, they use these “smart city” initiatives to justify their reclamation projects. Simply put, they will make “smart cities” beside their existing cities (or towns).

To better understand the term “smart city”, let us take the case of the other cities in the world that are so serious in this initiative. First and foremost, we should know that last year, the United Nations projected that there will be a huge surge in the population (68%) in the urban areas around the world by 2050. This surge in the population in the urban areas will not only worsen the current traffic situation but will certainly strain the existing infrastructure and services. Also, addressing the residents’ basic needs such as energy, water and sanitation will be a huge challenge.

A "Smart" city will be developed in Clark Freeport Zone, Clark Development Corp. (CDC) Chief Agnes Devanadera said.

"We have a proponent working on the smart city. It was affirmed and confirmed by the national government of Korea that they are really interested in Clark," Devanadera said on SMNI's "Business and Politics" program hosted by The Manila Times Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd.

“Since we are now living in a digital world, we want to make information and services available to all our constituents online,” Mayor Edwin Santiago said.

Dexter Dancel, Management Information Technology Division (MITD) head, disclosed that the city’s online portal uses the latest liquid design technology, which allows the screen to adjust and allows visitors to access the website without distortion of texts or links.

The recent advances in information technology and communications have prompted a desire to update the housing industry, one of the oldest and most conservative industries.

As we strive to develop new ways to structure our cities, there has been much interest in smart cities, which allows for the collection of data and information that could help decision makers better serve residents.

Siegfred Mison, BI Officer-in-Charge, said the Department of Justice has approved installations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport amd Clark International Airport among other terminals.

“Since 2012, BI computers at the NAIA had ‘downtimes’ at least 15 times lasting for several minutes, that led to queues and manual processing of passengers at the immigration counters,” he said.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez issued the statement so as to guide those who may think otherwise.

“Where you applied for the ID is where you should go. The ID is also not released in the barangay. Many are saying that the barangays are where you will collect your ID. This is not true,” he said in Pilipino during a television interview.

THE Automated Election System (AES) Watch already predicted (Episode I) late last year that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) wouldn’t conform with the deadline set by the AES law (i.e., RA9369) for yesterday, February 9, 2016, specifically compliance with the provisions related to tests and certifications (http://www.manilatimes.net/fearless-forecast-comelec-will-not-comply-with-the-aes-law-in-2016/236874/).

It all came true – source code reviews have problems and have not been completed; comparisons of source codes with equipment are yet to be done; contingency plans have not been certified, etc.

Microsoft Philippines hopes to gain the support of Cebuanos as it rolls out an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) manifesto that contains policy recommendations to facilitate progress and boost competitiveness in the country’s ICT sector.

The tech giant collaborated with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, the Asian Institute of Management and other private stakeholders in coming up with a policy paper that highlights recommendations on how the Philippines can take the next step in its ICT development agenda powered by the right technology.

At the recently held International Symposium on eHealth and Telemedicine, representatives from the Philippines as well as India, Pakistan, Malaysia and the World Health Organization (WHO) presented new ideas and developments in telehealth.

The bicameral conference committee, headed by Sen Aquilino Pimentel III, approved the proposal taken from House Bill 3469 and Senate Bill 1030, which requires all voters to appear before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to have their photograph, fingerprints and signatures recorded.

HB6052 was passed on May 23, while SB1030 was approved on November 12.

Broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has committed to improve internet connectivity in Davao City by linking it to an international cable system that will be activated in 2024.

Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy said his company would boost and expand its network infrastructure in Davao to support its push to become a digital city.

Uy told Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte that Converge would keep on investing in Davao City, especially as the firm builds up its international bandwidth.

Urban planners are urged to integrate cybersecurity investments in smart city blueprints to avoid attacks on the operational technology infrastructure of the country’s future smart cities, a cybersecurity firm said. Cyfirma president for delivery and operations Saurabh Lal told the Philippine News Agency that it is critical to integrate cybersecurity investments during the planning stage for a smart city, and not after all digital technologies are already in place.