Davao forum tackles way for local governments to innovate digitally.

DAVAO forum on Smart Cities brought together digital movers and stakeholders in the private and public sectors.

Local governments must innovate and adopt global trends if cities and municipalities are to be deemed “smart” in improving the life of citizens while staying competitive in the digital economy.

This was the messaging that reverberated in the Davao Smart Cities: The Future of Digital Government and Smart Businesses Forum at the T’nalak Seda Abreeza in Davao City.

The forum tackled ways to improve citizen engagement and how a data-driven government can formulate and operationalize policies, as well as provide a safe environment to the public.

The discussion also provided an opportunity for local leaders, the regional government, and guests to share insights with their innovative visions to the future implementation of Smart Cities.

SAP SE, an application software company which boasts of machine learning, advanced analytics technologies and in manufacturing Internet of Things (IoT) devices, hosted the forum.

SAP Philippines managing director Edler Panlilio said the country’s promotion of smart cities will help address current issues, like the “threat of urban decay that tolls heavily on the citizens and the state’s welfare.”

“A Smart City can bring beneficial solutions in raising the country’s economy and elevating resource sustainability. To implement a Smart City, a discourse on what it is, its benefits, and how will it be attained must be well-grasped,” he added.

Panlilio admitted thought that the implementation of a Smart City is a “steep slope to climb for the country.”

Davao City has jumped to one of the world’s 100 super cities, as cited by global firm Tholons. It was the only one in Mindanao cited because of its thriving business outsourcing sector and the city government’s digital transformation initiative.