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| (Image Source: The Smart Backpacker) |
2020 has been a tough and challenging year for the city of Lipa - from the unexpected Taal Volcano eruption that put a halt on some of the festivities in honor of the city's patron saint San Sebastian to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, from the challenges brought by the new normal affecting the daily lives of the city's populace to the recent onslaught of Typhoon Quinta and Super Typhoon Rolly in Southern Luzon. Amidst these challenges, it is refreshingly delightful to learn that the city remains resilient and its residents are maintaining a strong positive attitude with faith in God as their spiritual guide.
This is due to the continuing efforts of the city government under the administration of Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto and Mayor Eric B. Africa as well as the bayanihan mentality of residents and concerned organizations who want to be involved and help out to the best of their capacity and ability for the sake of the city. Among these efforts include thousands of mobile devices being given to teachers and students of various public elementary and secondary schools in the city as well as its public collegiate institution Kolehiyo Ng Lungsod Ng Lipa (KLL), continued monitoring and implementation of health and safety protocols against COVID-19, and the eventual continuation of various assistance programs benefitting thousands of Lipa's citizens in need.
Now, as today's modern world continues to thrive and evolve, it would seem that the City For All Seasons is ready to adjust towards a unique future where it will not only improve the quality of living for its residents, but also address the growing urbanization problems in the city. Weeks prior to the wrath of Quinta and Rolly, the city government of Lipa signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Integrated Technology Business Solutions (ITBS) for the implementation and application of new innovations powered by the latest technology ensuring the city's further progress and evolution into a smart city. Highly regarded as the first in Southern Luzon, the city is set to launch a Citizen Digital Card, Disaster Emergency Management and Operations Ecosystem, mobile applications and high-tech databases in the foreseeable future which aim to analyze, receive, and manage real-time data benefitting the government and the population in many different aspects.
Furthermore, the impending implementation of these new technological innovations within city grounds shall promote various sustainable development practices which will formulate solutions to the situations and challenges on the city's urbanization. Through the power of technology being adopted for future generations, the government and the residents of the city of Lipa will be able to manage complexities in the way we live our daily lives and do business and set a new standard for a unique way of progress and development that may even benefit other cities, towns and villages across the country. Indeed, smarter living in the City For All Seasons is on the horizon and is one that we should look forward to once the pandemic subsides.
