SOON, Makati City will become a fully digital and technology-embracing “Smart City”.
This after the city government of Makati early this week entered into public-private partnership (PPP) contracts with private-sector partners for five landmark digital projects.
One of these is the Fiber Optic Loop project, which will establish a public Wi-fi system providing free Wi-fi connection to Makati City residents. The project is targeted for completion in 27 barangays, excluding the city’s six villages, by the end of this year.
Another PPP contract scheduled for completion within the year involves the installation of mobile-signal boosters to strengthen cellular and Internet connectivity for the benefit of residents and transients in the city.
Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay led the signing of the contracts expected to fast-track the implementation of key programs aimed at expanding access to digital technology all over the city.
The mayor said the contract signing signifies the city’s commitment to provide the best features of today’s advanced technology to the city’s residents, guests, and business partners. She added these projects will serve as the cornerstone of Makati’s goal to become a true Smart City.
“These five projects are just the first of many digital-transformation programs which will further improve the technology we already have in Makati. We are tapping industry leaders from the private sector to speed up the implementation of these projects,” Binay said.
The mayor added the city government and its partners have laid out plans to ensure the projects will really make a difference in the daily lives of Makatizens.
The contract signing took place at the Lakan Tagkan Conference Room at Makati City Hall Building I between Makati City officials headed by Binay and representatives of the private companies.
The five digital PPP projects launched are Fiber Optic Loop connecting Makati City e-Government; Makatizen card promoting e-currency and online payment; mobile-signal boosters to strengthen cellular and Internet connectivity; city-wide towing, impounding and clamping that will allow online payment; and e-Payment at Jollijeeps using the Makatizen card.
The Fiber Optic Loop project will be accomplished in partnership with Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions Inc. and Neo Tech Asia Distribution Inc. Also known as the Makati City Public Wi-Fi System, it relies heavily on a fiber optic cable infrastructure to deliver managed Internet services to Makati City’s constituents.
The project aims to accelerate the city government’s efforts in enhancing Internet accessibility for its constituents to boost their economic, social and educational opportunities. It also intends to enhance the delivery of frontline services and transactions, improve internal and government processes to ensure greater transparency, efficiency and effectiveness in its operations, and allow easier and wider public access to government information and services.
The private contractor will complete installation of the fiber optic cable in and around Makati City, as well as provide the internet bandwidth that will be required in connection with the MyMakati Wi-Fi service. The free Internet service will be available to students, guests and transients for a fixed period every day.
Following its initial launch on May 30 with partners G-xchange and iBayad Online Ventures Inc., the Makatizen Universal Card System will now be rolled out to the city’s 33 barangays to provide over 500,000 residents better access to city-government services.
Along with city-government employees, residents can receive cash allowances, stipends and other cash benefits using their Makatizen Card. They can also use their cards to pay fees and taxes, as well as for personal remittances and other financial transactions.
The city government has also teamed up with Aim Technologies Inc. and Market Research Knowledge Technology Inc. for the project on mobile-signal boosters to strengthen cellular and Internet connectivity, which will make use of existing Makati City-owned lamp posts and structures for installing and maintaining telecommunications equipment and public-information structures. It aims to provide better cellular-phone service and public-information messages to residents and transients.
Through its partnership with Tokagawa Global Corp., the city government aims to ease daily heavy traffic caused by illegally parked vehicles, stalled vehicles and those involved in vehicular accidents. The private proponent shall provide all the towing vehicles and accessories, clamping materials, impounding area and manpower at no cost to the city. The digital aspect of the program includes provisions for online payment of fees and penalties for the convenience of drivers and vehicle owners.
Meanwhile, the city government has revitalized its existing partnership with Metro Stores for the provision of additional Jollijeep food stalls or mobile canteens as an alternative to sidewalk vendors and the acceptance of e-payment using the Makatizen Card. The private contractor will monitor and manage the new and improved mobile food stalls to ensure their strict compliance with City Ordinance 2002-007 with respect to sanitation, safety and functionality.
The Makatizen Card was the city’s first digital PPP project and affirmed Binay’s belief that PPPs are the best way to bring about digital transformation in Makati City and other localities. She had said earlier that Makati City recognizes the indispensable role of such a partnership in revolutionizing the way government serves its people.