Joining forces with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Central Visayas, the local government of Mandaue unveiled its plans at the opening of the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) on July 13, 2026 toward becoming one of the first smart and sustainable cities in the region.
During its launch, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito M. Ouano introduced the Smart Mandaue Roadmap, which aims to provide better public service and governance to the city through science, technology, and innovation (STI).
"Smart Mandaue did not change where we wanted to go, it strengthened how we got there. This serves as our guide in using STI to help us achieve the goals we have already set for our city," Ouano emphasized.
Through the DOST Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP), Smart Mandaue encompasses evidence-backed policymaking for disaster resilience, urban planning, conservation, and community empowerment.
Among its initiatives is the Mandaue Digital Twin, the flagship project of the roadmap, which will develop a digital model of the city integrating data on traffic infrastructure, mobility, environmental conditions, and development projects into a single platform.
"It gives us better information, helps us anticipate challenges before they happen, and enables us to make a smarter decision while using public resources more responsibly," Ouano explained.
He added that the model is envisioned to build an interactive, real-time system that fuses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with Mandaue's established online platform, CityMap, allowing more effective city operations such as predicting floods or managing traffic.
Projects under the Smart Mandaue Roadmap are set to run until 2032, focusing on governance through initiatives such as the Digital Twin, economy through DOST entrepreneurship programs, people's welfare, infrastructure, renewable energy sources, and resiliency efforts.
"We will continue to embrace innovation, not because technology is the future, but because it allows us to serve our people better today and build an even better Mandaue for tomorrow," the mayor added.
Mandaue City joins 152 other beneficiary local government units across the country under the expanded implementation of the department's SSCP.
Meanwhile, DOST-Central Visayas spearheaded the kickoff of the Smart Community Consortium, a multi-stakeholder platform for the SSCP across the region, through a ceremonial digital signing by DOST officials and industry partners.
"Collaborations begin simply with one conversation, shared concern, one cup of coffee, or one institution reaching out to one another. But when we nurture these connections, they grow into programs, technologies, enterprises, and solutions that make a real difference in people's lives," Dr. Tristan L. Abando, regional director of DOST VII, underscored.
The consortium will focus on the development and implementation of the program, mobilizing collaboration among government, academe, industries, and communities to help local government units employ and scale smart and sustainable solutions.
The Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) is one of the flagship programs of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph or the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) Facebook page.
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