THE Department of Science and Technology CALABARZON, through the Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) Quezon, in collaboration with the Highly Urbanized City of Lucena, successfully conducted a benchmarking activity in Cauayan City, Isabela, on October 2–3, 2025.
Recognized as the first Smart City in the Philippines and known as the City of Firsts, Cauayan City served as an ideal model for Lucena’s ongoing efforts toward becoming a smart and sustainable community. The activity aimed to introduce Lucena City to Cauayan’s various smart initiatives, highlighting both the successes and challenges that shaped its digital transformation journey.
Through this knowledge exchange, DOST CALABARZON, PSTO Quezon, and the City of Lucena reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing science, technology, and innovation as vital tools in achieving efficient and sustainable urban governance.
The delegation was composed of DOST CALABARZON’s Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations, Engr. Francisco R. Barquilla III; PSTO Quezon Provincial Director, Ms. Maria Esperanza E. Jawili; and PSTO Isabela Provincial Director, Engr. Rosario “Rose” G. Danga.
On October 2, the benchmarking program commenced with a presentation on Cauayan City’s journey to becoming the country’s first Smart City. Smart City Focal Person, Atty. Reina Consorcia M. Santos highlighted the city’s technology-driven governance and citizen-focused innovations. These include Cauayan’s recognition as the “Innovative City of the North,” its hosting of the International Smart & Sustainable Cities & Communities Exposition and Networking Engagement (iSCENE) in 2023 and 2025, and the development of several replicable technologies.
The plenary also emphasized the importance of partnerships and linkages in advancing smart city development—particularly the role of national government agencies, state universities and colleges, and the business sector in supporting local innovations. Cauayan City Mayor Caesar “Jaycee” S. Dy Jr. was also present during the discussion.
On October 3, the delegation visited the Isabela State University (ISU) Cauayan Campus to explore the Business Intelligence Research and Development Center (BIRD- C) and learn about its locally developed technologies in partnership with the LGU. Lucena City and DOST CALABARZON expressed interest in benchmarking the iCity: Digital Business Locator, along with other innovations such as the Business Intelligence Data Driven Assistant (BIDDA) for DOST SETUP Adopting Business Performance, Good Governance through Data Science and Decision Support System (GODDESS), Optimization of Decision Support System for Effective e-Governance (ODESSsee), Community Dengue Early Warning System (C-DEWS), Agriculture Supply and Demand Information System (LOQALINK), and the university’s Bamboo Processing Facility.
Through this initiative, DOST CALABARZON and the City of Lucena aim to adopt and localize best practices that will accelerate their transition toward a smart, data-driven, and sustainable community.
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