Manila, the country’s capital, dropped six places to 121st in 142 cities worldwide from 115th in the latest Smart City Index, dragged by concerns on health services, corruption/transparency, and unemployment.
The study 2024 Smart City Index (SCI) by IMD World Competitiveness Center’s Smart City Observatory released Thursday, April 11, combines hard data and survey responses to show the extent to which technology is enabling cities to address the challenges they face to achieve a higher quality of life for their inhabitants. It differs from other studies by being human-centric.
Of the 142 cities globally, Zurich retained the top spot for the fifth consecutive edition of the IMD Smart City Index, with Oslo in second place and Canberra in third. Geneva is fourth, and Singapore is fifth.
In 2023, the study ranked the Philippines 115th out of 141 cities. But the 2024 index showed that respondents were most concerned about dragging down the country’s ranking. These are health services, corruption/transparency, and unemployment. Health services ranked as top priority with 53.9 percent of respondents identified as top most priority, following by corruption/transparency at 50.6 percent and unemployment at 45.9 percent.
Other priority concerns include public transport, road congestion, security, affordable housing, air pollution, basic amenities (water, waste), fulfilling employment, school education, recycling, green spaces, social mobility/inclusiveness, and citizen engagement.
Meanwhile, the IMD noted of key findings where Manila was doing well in specific areas. These are on online access online access to job listings has made it easier to find work; online purchasing of tickets to shows and museums has made it easier to attend; and businesses are creating new jobs.
There are two factors – Structures and Technologies – used to measure a country’s ranking.
Under the factor – Structures - under sub factor governance, respondents did not agree to the statement that corruption of city officials is not an issue of concern with a very low grade of 16.8. Respondents did not also quite agree to the statement that residents contribute to decision making of local government with 44.0 score.
On activities, respondents agree that cultural activities (shows, bars, and museums) are satisfactory with a score of 68.5 but rated green spaces in the city with a score of 50.1.
Respondents also thumbed down the statement that traffic congestion is not a problem in the country’s capital, scoring a low of 13.3. The statement - public transport is satisfactory- also got a low score of 33.9.
Air pollution scored only 18.2 while finding housing with rent equal to 30 percent or less of a monthly salary is not a problem got another low score of 33.6.
On the use of technologies in the city under health and safety, Manila got a score of 69.4 with respondents saying that CCTV cameras has made residents feel safer and 67.5 for improved access to arranging medical appointments online.
The city scored 54 for improved access to services due to the use of free public Wi-FI and 53.7 for speedy solution due to online reporting of city maintenance problems.
On technologies for mobility, Manila scored 62.4 for providing information on traffic congestion through mobile phones and 60.3 for online scheduling and ticket sales that have made public transport easier to use. Reduced congestion with the use of bicycle scored 49.2 while car sharing apps for reduced congestion scored lower 48.5.
For activities, respondents agreed that online purchasing of tickets to shows and museums has made it easier to get tickets and attend shows. This technology scored a high of 74.2.
On opportunities for school and work, respondents said that online access to job listings has made it easier to find work with a high score of 75.7 percent.
Respondents also agree that the online services provided by the city has made it easier to start a new business with a score of 66.5 while the statement “IT skills being taught well in schools and current internet speed and reliability meet connectivity needs score lower at 59.7 and 51.6, respectively.
On governance, respondents agree that processing identification documents online has reduced waiting times with a score of 68.5. But respondents did not quite agree that online public access to city finances has reduced corruption as this got a lower score of 44.5.
The report further noted that North Americancities fall, reflecting residents' dissatisfaction. Zurich, Oslo, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Beijing, and Seoul are the most consistently high-performing cities in the Top 20since the Index started. Sydney, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tallinn, and Riyadh are on the rise.
The 2024 Index is the second report produced by the Smart City Observatory- part of the IMD World Competitiveness Center- in partnership with the Seoul-based World Smart Sustainable CitiesOrganization (WeGO), an international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions.