ARTECHE, Eastern Samar – The PH3D team and the Municipality of Arteche co-organized a roadshow on November 24, 2021 at the Municipal Hall of Arteche to discuss the status of the PH3D project, further understand the needs of the municipality, and strengthen the team’s relationship with local partners.
Some 45 participants attended the event, led by Mayor Roland Boie Evardone and the local government staff of Arteche; members of the Sangguniang Bayan; and faculty of State Universities and Colleges (SUC)-partner Eastern Samar State University-Arteche Campus.
Discussions highlighted how data can be a powerful tool to supplement disaster and risk reduction response and management strategies. Mayor Evardone, in his opening message, expressed his interest in adopting smart city practices in the municipality’s development agenda. This includes a framework that integrates Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and data to promote sustainable development.
Mayor Evardone also emphasized the importance of building partnerships with civil society organizations as a way for the municipality to expand its capacity in providing better services for its constituents.
“Sa dami ng pinagkakagastusan ng munisipyo, kailangan talaga nating mag-source out from other funding sources and partners para sa mga ganitong project,” Mayor Evardone said. “Maraming maraming salamat, despite sa fact na ang layo ng Arteche ay binigyan nyo kami ng time given na nasa pandemic pa tayo,” he added.
During the roadshow, the PH3D team turned over equipment to Arteche’s local government unit (LGU) to support the technical requirements of the local data lab. This included a laptop pre-installed with relevant licensed programs and a printer.
____
Action for Economic Reforms (AER) was established in 1996 and is a policy research, advocacy, and action group by publicly-engaged political economists with focus on various sectors from fiscal policy, food and agriculture, industrial policy, governance, interface, and data-driven development.
PH3D, a component of AER’s data-driven development focus and co-funded by the European Union (EU), helps Local Government Units (LGU) deliver their priority projects using data and technology, and community alliances. Using this framework, LGUs will have access to actionable evidence that will empower them to view macro and micro data, prioritize programs, manage resources, enhance capacity, and get support from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).