WHAT REALLY MAKES A CITY SMART?

 WHAT REALLY MAKES A CITY SMART?

We love labels in this country. We have eco-tourism zones, heritage towns, digital hubs—even “Resilient Cities". But here’s a question that seems to hang unanswered in government offices: Which city in the Philippines can truly call itself a “smart city”?

Spoiler alert: none. Not even Manila. Not even those with towering BPOs or fancy LED traffic lights. Meanwhile, in Asia, Singapore, Beijing, and Songdo in South Korea have already earned the “smart city” badge. How did they do it, and more importantly, why haven’t we done it?

Let’s first settle one thing: a “smart city” is not just a city with free Wi-Fi in the plaza or one that livestreams council sessions on Facebook. It’s not just about mobile apps or CCTVs. At its core, a smart city is one that uses technology intelligently to deliver better public services, create safer communities, and raise the quality of life of its citizens. Tech is a means—not the end.

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Start at the Nerve Center: The City Hall

Let’s not get too futuristic yet. The first hurdle for any city wanting to be “smart” is quite basic: automate city hall.

And I don’t mean just encoding business permits into Excel files. I’m talking about a full-fledged Management Information System (MIS) or better yet, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) setup that can manage permits, taxes, payroll, assets, logistics, and services—all in one seamless platform.

How can we even talk about a “smart city” if the building at its core—the city hall—is still processing documents manually, with stacks of folders and hand-carried memos? A “smart campus” is where it should begin. If your city hall is “dumb,” your city has no business claiming to be “smart.”

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Test Tech at the Source

Any tech to be deployed citywide should first prove itself in the “smart campus.” That’s the sandbox. That’s where we should first see data analytics, IoT devices, AI, building management systems, and even authentication tools like facial recognition, QR codes, biometrics, and so on.

Let’s be clear: a city is not “smart” because it has sensors. It is “smart” if it knows what to do with the data from those sensors—and if that data leads to better decisions.

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A Smart City Must First Be a Safe, Clean, and Livable City

Here's a truth bomb: no amount of AI can mask dirty streets, dangerous roads, or broken transport systems.

So here’s my own checklist for “smartness”:

• Cleanliness – Trash-free streets and functioning sewerage. If your drainage floods during light rain, you’re not smart.
• Safety – Low crime. Responsive police. Public lighting that works.
• Transportation – Affordable, accessible, and reliable. If commuters are hanging off jeepneys in the rain, tech won’t fix that.
• Utilities – Cheap and consistent water, power, and internet. Not five bar signals in one barangay and none in the next.
• Jobs and Housing – Low joblessness, low homelessness. No amount of digitization will fix inequality unless it’s inclusive.

Simply put: if the basics aren’t working, smart tech will only expose the flaws faster.

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Technology: Input, Not the Outcome

According to Microsoft Copilot (yes, even AI has its say), a smart city uses “advanced technologies and data analytics to enhance the quality of life, improve sustainability, and streamline city operations.”

That’s all true. But we must always remember that technology is just the tool. The real measure of a smart city is not how advanced its dashboard looks, but how efficiently and humanely it serves its people.

Songdo, South Korea didn’t become a smart city just because it installed smart traffic lights. It became one because urban planning, governance, and technology all worked together. Singapore didn’t just add gadgets—they applied discipline, policy coherence, and a vision of inclusive progress.

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So, Who’s Up for the Challenge?

Mr. President, we’ve heard your calls for digitalization. The ball is now with the local governments. Which mayor will be brave enough to say: “We will be the first true smart city in the Philippines”?

But here's a challenge: before you declare it on social media, audit your own city hall. Is your payroll automated? Is your permit system online from start to finish? Can your citizens access basic services with just their phones? Do you even answer your official email?

If the answer is no, then let’s put the “smart” label aside. A good start would be to aim for “functional,” “responsive,” and “efficient.”

And when we get those right—then we can talk about being smart.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

08-22-2025