Balanga City is moving closer to its goal of becoming a smart and sustainable university town through a strategic partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The city government, DAP, and DOST recently concluded a three-day Smart City Validation Workshop and Visioning, bringing together stakeholders, innovation experts, and partners to refine strategies and validate key assessment findings.

DOST Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations Romeolito Tacbian affirmed the agency’s full support, calling the initiative a major step toward inclusive development and innovation. “This effort promotes Balanga as a center for education, technology, and economic growth,” he said.

DAP’s Center for Governance Director Alvin Principe emphasized that smart city development is an ongoing process, not a quick fix. Under the LIPAD PH (Linking Innovation Partners towards Accelerated Development in the Philippines) program, DAP pledged continued support for Balanga’s transformation using data-driven governance and inclusive innovation.

Outgoing Mayor and Vice Mayor-elect Francis Garcia thanked DAP and DOST for their collaboration, while incoming Mayor Raquel Garcia vowed to continue building on these efforts to improve public services and quality of life.

“Let’s promote data-driven decision-making across governance, healthcare, education, and sustainability. Together, we can create impactful services for every Balangueño,” said the mayor-elect.

The workshop covered six key domains—governance, environment, mobility, living, economy, and people—and included a visioning session to chart Balanga’s long-term smart city roadmap.

Balanga is among the LGUs supported under the LIPAD PH project, a joint initiative by DOST Central Luzon and DAP.