The Municipality of Ipil has joined the SMART-Sibugay Project
The Municipality of Ipil has joined the SMART-Sibugay Project, an initiative aimed at improving mobility, transport access, emergency response and disaster resilience in communities across Zamboanga Sibugay.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was formally signed on September 15, 2026, at the Zamboanga Sibugay Polytechnic Institute (ZSPI) in Kabasalan, marking the participation of Ipil as one of the project's beneficiary municipalities.
Ipil Mayor Ramses Troy Olegario represented the municipality during the signing and signed the agreement on behalf of the local government.
Also signing the MOA was Jennifer Pidor, representing the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region IX, along with Bong Santisteban, who represented the Office of 2nd District Representative Doc Marly Hofer-Hasim.
Pidor currently serves as Officer-in-Charge Regional Director of DOST Region IX. She previously served as Provincial Science and Technology Director for Zamboanga Sibugay before assuming her regional post.
SMART-Sibugay stands for Sustainable Mobility and Accessible Relevant Transport for Health, Emergency Response, and Disaster Resilience in Zamboanga Sibugay Communities.
The project is among the initiatives funded under the DOST Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP) and is being pursued through collaboration between DOST Region IX and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region IX.
The initiative seeks to develop and provide practical solutions that can improve transportation and mobility while supporting the delivery of health services, emergency response and disaster risk reduction efforts.
For Ipil, the project is particularly relevant to the municipality's efforts to strengthen the capacity of its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) and other frontline services.
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Reliable mobility and accessible transport can be critical during emergencies, allowing responders to reach affected communities and facilitate the delivery of assistance, particularly during disasters and other situations requiring immediate action.
The participation of the congressional office of Doc Marly Hofer-Hasim also reflects support for initiatives that bring science, technology and practical community-based solutions to local governments and their constituents.
The LGU Ipil expressed appreciation to DOST Region IX and TESDA Region IX for the partnership and said it would continue working with national government agencies and partner institutions to bring programs and initiatives that provide practical and additional benefits to the people of Ipil.
The MOA signing brings Ipil and other participating communities into a collaborative effort to develop more accessible, responsive and disaster-resilient local communities through smart and sustainable approaches.
