03/12/2025
Thank you po Maasin City Public Info Office! Let us continue the good work!
A Visionary at the Helm: How Councilor Mikee Is Quietly Shaping Maasin City’s Digital Future
There’s something unmistakable about the way Councilor Mikhael Leonardo V. Mercado observes a room during any discussion, the long, steady gaze that feels like he’s quietly downloading the future. For those who work with him, it’s clear: he’s not just leading Maasin City’s ICT initiatives… he’s imagining what comes next.
As Chairperson of the Science & Technology and Information & Communications Technology Committee, he carries a vision that stretches far beyond routine governance. While most leaders manage the present, he’s charting bold, forward-looking strategies that keep the city ahead of the curve.
From championing reliable satellite connectivity to strengthen DRRM operations in the barangays to ensuring that public schools, especially in hard-to-reach areas, are finally included in the digital ecosystem, his work is driven by purpose and conviction. His strong collaboration with department heads, DOST Regional Office VIII and DOST - Southern Leyte PSTO, Department of Information and Communications Technology - DICT, Southern Leyte State University, the Cdrrmo Maasin City and City Agriculture - LGU Maasin City, former Mayor Nikko, and Mayor Luz Mercado together with Cong. Roger Mercado, shows that progress moves faster when leaders pull in the same direction.
The rollout of satellite-based communication systems has already shown great promise. And while the process includes inevitable trial-and-error phases, he and his team continue refining the setup to ensure long-term sustainability. Once the DRRM communication system is fully optimized, its implementation will be deployed with full force.
His forward-thinking mindset stretches well beyond ICT. After a recent benchmarking activity, he brought home Project SARAI from DOST-PCARRD, an initiative set to future-proof the city’s agricultural sector through data-driven, climate-smart innovations. For him, strengthening local farming isn’t just a plan, it’s a responsibility.
He also championed the cleanup of messy, tangled overhead wires across the city, a simple but transformative step that made streets safer and the skyline cleaner, finally giving Maasin a more organized look.
On the administrative side, he played an important role in the LGU’s journey toward ISO 9001:2015 certification, an achievement made possible through the united effort of hardworking department heads who embraced quality management and standardization in every process.
One of his most significant contributions this year is authoring the ordinance that established the City Information Technology Unit. This ensures continuity, protects ongoing digital projects, and uplifts IT personnel, setting the foundation for long-term digital transformation within the LGU.
And just this year, Maasin City earned a Level 3 rating for sustained Smart and Sustainable Communities from DOST, made possible through the collective efforts of former Mayor Nikko, Mayor Luz Mercado, DOST, Sir Mikee, and all LGU teams driving the city’s smart innovations.
In an era where many talk about innovation, Sir Mikee simply gets to work, quietly, steadily, and with a vision firmly fixed on a smarter, stronger, and future-ready Maasin City.
