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January 12–16, 2026 | Singapore – Innovate Iloilo, in partnership with the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILED), Iloilo City Government, and the Local Government Units of San Miguel and Leganes, conducted a benchmarking tour in Singapore. The initiative aimed to expose Local Chief Executives (LCEs) and key officials to globally recognized best practices in innovation-driven governance, sustainable urban development, and smart city systems.
Singapore was selected for its strong track record in integrating innovation with governance, enterprise growth, workforce readiness, and long-term urban planning. The tour provided Iloilo’s delegation with practical insights into how innovation ecosystems are structured, institutionalized, and aligned with both national and local development priorities.
At ACE Singapore under Enterprise Singapore, the delegation observed how a centralized innovation hub brings together startups, SMEs, investors, mentors, corporations, and government agencies into a cohesive ecosystem. Rather than operating in silos, stakeholders are supported through structured programs, mentorship networks, and industry partnerships that accelerate commercialization and real-world impact.
This model resonated strongly with Iloilo’s growing innovation landscape and reinforced the importance of institutionalizing innovation through permanent structures, clear mandates, and sustained policy support.
The visit to the Aquaculture Innovation Centre highlighted how research and science guide sustainable aquaculture development. Discussions emphasized conducting baseline studies—such as water quality analysis, species compatibility assessments, and environmental impact evaluations—before scaling operations.
For Iloilo, where aquaculture and fisheries remain vital economic sectors, the exchange opened opportunities for research-based pilot projects that balance productivity with ecological protection. The experience underscored that sustainability must be embedded at the planning stage rather than addressed after expansion.
At the Singapore City Gallery, the delegation explored how long-term, data-driven, and people-centered planning supports balanced urban growth. Through the Smart Nation framework, Singapore integrates digital tools across transport systems, utilities management, disaster preparedness, and public services.
The visit demonstrated that smart city development is not merely about technology adoption—it requires integrated land use planning, inter-agency coordination, and a clear strategic vision. For Iloilo City and neighboring municipalities experiencing urbanization and tourism growth, these insights reinforced the value of proactive and coordinated planning.
Engagements with GECO Asia focused on customizing digital solutions for local government needs. Discussions explored potential applications for streamlining ease-of-doing-business processes and developing adaptable traffic management systems for both city and municipal contexts.
A key takeaway was the importance of co-development. Rather than adopting off-the-shelf technologies, digital transformation must be tailored to local workflows, capacities, and governance realities to ensure sustainability and long-term impact.
Across all visits, a consistent theme emerged: innovation works best when aligned with governance, planning, and community needs.
Singapore’s experience demonstrated that innovation does not depend solely on advanced technology. Instead, it requires the right mindset, strong institutions, data-informed decision-making, investment in people, and cross-sector collaboration. Government plays a critical enabling role by fostering partnerships among the private sector, academia, and communities while maintaining a clear and unified vision.
While Singapore operates at a different scale, its core principles are transferable. For Iloilo, the focus is not replication, but adaptation.
The benchmarking tour marks an important step toward strengthening Iloilo’s position as a regional innovation hub. Key next steps include:
Localizing applicable governance and smart city models within participating LGUs
Strengthening or establishing an Iloilo innovation hub to consolidate startup support, MSME development, research partnerships, and government-led innovation programs
Integrating data-driven planning into local development and land use frameworks aligned with MIGEDC priorities and national smart city goals
Piloting digital governance initiatives before scaling across the province
Investing in capacity building to sustain innovation and long-term governance reforms
As Iloilo continues to build on its strong national innovation ranking, the lessons from Singapore serve as both inspiration and practical guidance. Through collaboration, strategic planning, and people-centered implementation, Iloilo advances toward a smarter, more sustainable, and future-ready development pathway.
