Baguio urges other LGUs to maximize digital tools

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO) head Architect Donna R. Tabangin highlighted the crucial role of data-driven digital tools in strengthening urban resilience and climate change adaptation strategies.

Tabangin emphasized that local government units benefit significantly from analytical platforms such as the Adaptation and Action Explorer, which aggregate multi-sectoral data to establish evidence-based baselines for long-term urban planning.

"The data in the explorer tool allows us to plan properly. It's also like a digital collaboration platform because we see what others are doing, what other cities are busy about, and what efforts they are currently undertaking," Tabangin said.

She noted that the platform enables local government units to observe best practices across municipalities, fostering regional peer learning amid worsening environmental pressures.

"I strongly encourage other local governments to join the explorer tool because this would help us in better planning, using evidence as our baseline for all actions that we do to reach our ambition of becoming resilient cities. Climate risks are growing, and so are opportunities of learning from each other," she added.

Beyond climate risk tracking, data analytics platforms support zoning compliance and spatial management. Integrated alongside Baguio’s broader smart-city initiative including its planned Digital Twin system. Such digital tools bolster spatial structure oversight and risk-based zoning under the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).