๐ต๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ข๐โ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐๐.
๐ฆ๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ โ ๐๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐น ๐ญ๐ฐ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ โ The Department of Science and Technology – SOCCSKSARGEN, under the leadership of Regional Director ๐๐ซ. ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐. ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฐ๐๐ง, ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐, through the Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO)โSultan Kudarat led by Provincial Director ๐๐ฌ. ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ ๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ง๐จ, ๐๐๐, successfully conducted a three-day consultation meeting for the formulation of the Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP) Roadmap across three municipalities in Sultan Kudarat namely the Municipality of ๐๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฒ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐จ, , the Municipality of ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ , and ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ.
The activity was supported by EVFI Consultants ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐๐งฬ๐จ๐ซ and ๐๐ซ. ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ง, who served as technical facilitators during the roadmapping process. It brought together key stakeholders, members of the Technical Working Group, and local government officials to collaboratively develop a forward-looking roadmap aimed at transforming communities into smarter, more resilient, and sustainable localities. The PSTO-SK team, including Engr. Szalinah S. Mercado, Supervising SRS and Regional focal person for SSCP, facilitated discussions and ensured active stakeholder engagement throughout the activity.
The consultation commenced in the Municipality of Senator Ninoy Aquino, led by Municipal Mayor, ๐๐จ๐ง. ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐. ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐. During the session, Mayor Flauta highlighted the municipalityโs priority on establishing e-Governance systems to improve public service delivery. He acknowledged that limited internet connectivity remains a key challenge but expressed optimism that this will be addressed soon. He also emphasized strengthening the municipalityโs coffee industry, recognizing its role as the coffee capital of Sultan Kudarat.
This was followed by sessions in the Municipality of Kalamansig, under the leadership of Mayor, ๐๐จ๐ง. ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐. ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐. Mayor Garcia presented a comprehensive and well-prepared development direction, focusing on enhancing the municipalityโs coffee industry. Among his proposed initiatives are the establishment of a coffee processing center equipped with an optical scanner to support local coffee processors, as well as a coffee nursery capable of producing up to one ton per hectare annually.
The final leg of the consultation was held in Tacurong City, the identified pilot community for the SSCP, headed by the City Mayor, ๐๐จ๐ง. ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐. ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐, ๐๐ก๐.Mayor Montilla shared the cityโs readiness to implement SSCP initiatives, highlighting efforts to strengthen internet connectivity in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). She also noted that the bioreactor project provided to the city is currently underway for operationalization.
The activity underscores the strong collaboration between DOST and local government units in advancing sustainable development through science, technology, and innovation. The finalization and implementation of the SSCP Roadmap are expected to materialize before the end of the year.