Solidum highlights inclusivity in achieving sustainable smart cities

Creating a smart, sustainable city requires inclusivity among stakeholders, including government agencies and local governments, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Monday.

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum made the statement during the opening of the 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) in Metro Manila.

He said inclusivity is defined through participation, representation, and accessibility.

“Ensuring participatory approaches to development efforts allow us to create custom-fit and context-specific technologies,” Solidum said during his speech.

He added that inclusivity should also protect the environment by conserving the country’s natural resources.

“Development should not be exclusive. Development should not be obstructive. Therefore, let us work for development that brings freedom for the poor, for the marginalized, for the vulnerable, providing options allowing people to choose, enabling people to be and to do,” Solidum said.

Smart city roadmap

DOST-NCR also presented the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Plan and Roadmap of Pasig and Caloocan cities, which focuses on sustainable urban development using science and technology.

The roadmap is under the DOST Smart and Sustainable Communities Program and the Innovation, Science, and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-based Development (iSTART) Program.

In an interview with reporters, Solidum said the roadmap will help LGUs achieve their goal for a sustainable city.

“To be inclusive, sinasabi nga natin, ang ating mga pagpaplano at proyekto ay dapat participatory or ang ibig sabihin ay co-creation,” Solidum said.

(To be inclusive, we emphasize that our planning and projects should be participatory, which means co-creation.)

“Siyempre, i-facilitate natin ang kanilang kagustuhan at nagbibigay tayo ng mga dagdag na idea. And this would really be better kasi they own the plan, they own the initiative,” he added.

(Of course, we facilitate their ideas and provide additional suggestions. This approach works best because they have their plan and own initiative.)

In a separate interview, DOST-NCR Regional Director Romelen Tresvalles said the LGU must have an interest in a sustainable city to begin the roadmap.

The planning may take at least 3 months since the LGU and DOST present the ideas and look into available technologies.

Meanwhile, the progress is monitored yearly.

“We’re continually improving the project para mas mapabilis (to make it more efficient),” Tresvalles said.

The other cities in Metro Manila with a smart and sustainable roadmap are Muntinlupa and Quezon City.—LDF, GMA Integrated News