Iloilo unveils smart governance tools

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By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo Provincial Government has stepped up its push for technology-driven governance with the launch of Project TALAMDAN and the 4K for MoRProGRes Dashboard, two digital platforms designed to centralize key data and strengthen evidence-based decision-making.

The platforms were launched April 8 as part of the 125th Semana sang Iloilo celebration.

Project TALAMDAN, or Technologically Advanced Lens for the Assessment and Management of Development and for Actions Needed, integrates geospatial data from more than 10 provincial offices into a single secure and interactive system.

Developed by the Office of the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, the system gives local officials what acting head EnP Jigger Labergue described as a “command-center view” of Iloilo.

The platform tracks the status of Comprehensive Development Plans and Comprehensive Land Use Plans in 42 municipalities and one component city.

It also consolidates zoning maps, transport route plans and land cover data, while providing information on economic zones, utilities and connectivity that could help guide investors and planners.

“For years, our greatest challenge to rapid, data-driven governance has been fragmented information. Today, we are proud to officially end the era of data silos,” Labergue said.

Labergue said the system would improve planning and coordination while also strengthening disaster response.

“Through the platform, we are mapping hazard-prone areas, evacuation centers, and critical facilities. This ensures that when emergencies strike, we deploy resources with absolute precision,” he said.

The system also contains data on cultural and heritage sites, tourism assets, accommodation establishments, school infrastructure projects, demographic profiles and development programs.

Labergue said the platform supports the province’s transparency and smart-governance drive under Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s MoRProGRes Iloilo agenda.

“Project Talamdan is the digital engine of Gov. Defensor’s MoRProGRes Iloilo agenda. It de-risks our infrastructure, protects our communities, and signals to the world that Iloilo is a transparent, investment-ready, and smart province. The maps of tomorrow are no longer drawn on paper—they are rendered in real time,” he said.

Officials said the platform will soon be opened to mayors, investors, stakeholders and the public.

Complementing TALAMDAN is the 4K for MoRProGRes Dashboard, which was presented by Carr Brian J. Griño of the Provincial Community Defense Action Center.

Griño said the dashboard translates data into actionable intelligence for governance and crisis management.

He said the system allows officials to access relevant information, monitor trends and get timely insights into emerging threats and their effect on the province’s economy and development.

He added that the dashboard is anchored on “napapanahong datos,” or timely information.

“It ensures that decisions are guided by accurate, realtime data, that allows the Province to respond swiftly, act decisively, and implement interventions when and where they are most needed,” he said.

The dashboard provides updates on disasters, public health concerns and climate patterns such as El Niño and La Niña, while also tracking global developments that may affect the local economy.

“Through these features, the dashboard enables leadership to have a clearer, more immediate understanding of both local and global factors,” Griño said.

The system supports the province’s 4K for MoRProGRes Program—Kapayapaan, Kaayusan, at Katatagan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Bagong Pilipinas.

The program was institutionalized through Executive Order No. 111, Series of 2025, which established the Provincial Community Defense Action for MoRProGRes Iloilo.

Both platforms are built on open-source technology, which officials said helps reduce costs while ensuring full government ownership.

Officials said further enhancements, including artificial intelligence integration, are being planned to expand the systems’ capabilities.

With the rollout of TALAMDAN and the 4K Dashboard, Iloilo aims to strengthen its position as a smart province by delivering faster, more transparent and data-driven services.

The launch was led by Vice Gov. Lee Ann Debuque and Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, with the participation of department heads, national government partners and other stakeholders.