The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) SOCCSKSARGEN, in partnership with the University of the Philippines – LUNGSOD Team, continued the implementation of the SMART-ER SOCCSKSARGEN Project through the conduct of the User Modules Training and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for the City Government of General Santos on September 7–8, 2026, at CPPMO, City Government Compound, General Santos City.
The two-day activity formed part of the project’s continuing efforts to strengthen a more data-driven, coordinated, and technology-enabled emergency response system for local government units. It focused on familiarizing the members of the SMART-ER General Santos Technical Working Group (TWG) with the system’s user modules, operational workflows, and platform functionalities prior to wider deployment and implementation.
During the opening program, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Dr. Bong Dacera Jr. welcomed the participants and expressed the city government’s support for the project. Drawing from his experience in emergency response, he emphasized the importance of having an integrated digital platform that can improve the flow of information, support timely decision-making, and strengthen coordination among responders during emergencies and disaster situations.
The SMART-ER General Santos TWG actively participated in the hands-on training sessions, where members were guided through the system’s process workflows and trained on the management and use of the user modules. The activity also provided an opportunity for participants to test the platform, identify areas for improvement, and provide feedback on its functionality, usability, and operational suitability based on the actual needs and processes of the city government.
The User Acceptance Testing likewise served as an important validation step to ensure that the system is aligned with the operational requirements of General Santos City before full deployment. Inputs gathered during the activity will be used by the UP LUNGSOD Team for further refinement, system customization, and enhancement.
Through this initiative, DOST SOCCSKSARGEN and the City Government of General Santos continue to strengthen their partnership toward building a smarter, more responsive, and data-driven emergency management system, supporting the broader goal of developing smart and sustainable communities across SOCCSKSARGEN.
