Pioneered in the CARAGA Region for Mindanao, iSTART looks to assist Local Government Units (LGU) in developing a technology-based development plan that incorporates the different programs of the National Government Agencies (NGA) in order to maximize government services.

“Ang purpose gyud sa iSTART, ang gusto nato ang development mahitabo sa LGUs should be inclusive, should be comprehensive, and gusto nato ma-introduce didto sa ilang process and science, technology, and innovation,” ("The purpose of iSTART is that we want the development of our LGUs, [they] should be inclusive, should be comprehensive, and we want to introduce science, technology, and innovation into their process") said DOST Provincial Director Nuhman Aljani during an interview.

Afterwards, the DOST helped identify which programs of which agency could address which problem of the LGUs.

As of now, 6 LGUs are part of the program – the two Cities of Dipolog and Dapitan from Zamboanga del Norte, the Municipality of Aurora and the City of Pagadian from Zamboanga del Sur, and the Municipality of Ipil as well as the Provincial Government of Zamboanga Sibugay.

The DOST also plans on taking on more beneficiaries once they assess the results of the 6 pilot LGUs. (NBE/PJF/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte)