In a significant move toward data-driven governance, the Province of Cotabato, through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP), officially launched the SMART-ER SOCCSKSARGEN Project.
The initiative aims to develop a centralized online data system to enhance provincial planning, policymaking, and service delivery.
According to DOST, the system will consolidate critical datasets, including Cotabato’s socio-economic profile and other key information, providing government agencies and stakeholders with the tools to make strategic, evidence-based decisions.
In support of the initiative, Governor Emmylou T. Mendoza issued Executive Order No. 82, Series of 2025, reconstituting the Provincial Science, Technology, and Innovation Council (PSTIC) as the overseeing body for the project’s implementation.
To jumpstart data collection, system development, and validation, Provincial Director Michael T. Mayo and PAC Member and Managing Consultant Rene P. Villarico led a coordination meeting on March 3, 2026, at the Office of the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator (OPPDC).
DOST said the SMART-ER SOCCSKSARGEN Project represents a major step toward a smarter, more efficient Cotabato, aligning technology, governance, and innovation to meet the evolving needs of its communities and local businesses.
Photo by PPDO
