Lipa city: Traffic congestion in Lipa City, Batangas, may soon be eased by an artificial intelligence-driven monitoring system that aims to reduce average peak-hour travel times on major roads by 15 to 20 percent.

According to Philippines News Agency, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Batangas Information Officer John Maico Hernandez stated in a phone interview that the DOST regional office has approved the "AI-Powered Traffic Analytics and Decision Support System for Sustainable Mobility and Traffic Decongestion in the City of Lipa." The project has been formally conveyed to Mayor Eric B. Africa.

The initiative is part of the Smart and Sustainable Communities Program, a collaboration between DOST-Calabarzon and the Lipa City government. "Lipa City is the first local government unit in Batangas province to implement the project," Hernandez mentioned.

Under the DOST Grants-in-Aid Program, the city will provide PHP4 million in counterpart funding to DOST's approved PHP3 million grant to deploy SEERMO, an AI-assisted urban mobility analytics platform. SEERMO will analyze existing CCTV footage, administrative records, and targeted field validation to produce integrated traffic analytics for planners.

The platform will map traffic flow, vehicle volumes, congestion hotspots, and mobility behavior using AI-assisted methods and transport planning tools, aiming to enhance traffic management and road safety. Hernandez noted that Lipa City currently relies on manual observation, fixed signal timing, road widening, and alternate routes to manage congestion. The absence of integrated, objectively analyzed data has limited the city's ability to identify recurring bottlenecks and plan long-term solutions.

Officials stated that the project will also strengthen institutional planning through science-based, data-driven decision-making and is expected to boost economic productivity, improve competitiveness, lower fuel use, and cut carbon emissions as Lipa City pursues smarter, sustainable urban development.