Smart governance, decisive leadership key to PHL smart cities

SMART CITIES in the Philippines must be anchored on “smart governance” and decisive human leadership rather than a sole reliance on high-tech infrastructure, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chief said.

“Technology is important, but technology is our gateway. And we believe that leadership is what makes it work. It’s always the human component,” MMDA General Manager Nicolas D. Torre III said during his talk at the Smart City Conventions 2026 at the SMX Convention Center Aura, Taguig.

He emphasized that while technologies like artificial intelligence and data centers are important, they cannot replace the human component required to transform data into real-time solutions for traffic, flooding, and public safety.

The MMDA chief said that a city’s intelligence is not measured by its digital tools, but by its ability to solve problems like ensuring faster ambulance arrivals and floodwater monitoring before natural calamities strike.

He said the only way to manage a “mega city” this big is through data, discipline, and decisive execution.

“At MMDA, we are continuously moving toward real-time awareness and real-time response. In our traffic monitoring, in CCTV systems, in integrated command centers, in emergency coordination, in data analytics, and incident management,” Mr. Torre emphasized.

During the convention, the MMDA chief demonstrated the agency’s 136 hotline, showcasing a program management system designed to restore road mobility within minutes of a traffic or road related incident.

He highlighted the agency’s program of responding, taking action, and resolving incidents within five minutes each step. — Juliana Chloe A. Gonzales