To make gov’t more responsive to the changing times

SENATOR Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has refiled in the 19th Congress his proposed measure institutionalizing the transition of the government to e-governance in the digital age as he cited lessons the country has learned from the pandemic.

The proposed E-Governance Act of 2022, mandates the government to establish an integrated, interconnected, and interoperable information and resource-sharing and communications network spanning the entirety of the national and local government, an internal records management information system, an information database, and digital portals for the delivery of public services.

The measure likewise pushes for the digitization of paper-based and other traditional modes of workflows for a more efficient and transparent public service.

Go noted that the transition of the government to the digital age has been a long time coming.

“The government must use information and communications technology to better serve its purpose and get closer to the people in an era where practically everything can be done online and through other digital channels,” Go said.

The senator also mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic “highlighted gaps, both foreseen and unforeseen, in the delivery of government services in the country.”

At the height of the pandemic, Go noted, long queues and physical appointments with government agencies, financial institutions and other public offices burdened the public.

He added that major government social services and programs were also forced to shut down, limiting the public’s accessibility to public services at a time when the same were needed the most.

“This bill takes into consideration what we have learned from what has been and is being done, drawing from the experiences of technologically-advanced countries and the best practices of those who have started the push for e-governance, to initiate the country’s first big step to an institutional and whole-of-government approach to digitizing governance for a better government and a safer future,” Go mentioned.

Under Go’s proposed measure, the heads of government agencies are mandated to comply with the requirements of the proposed E-governance roadmap, including related standards for all Information and Communications Technology infrastructure, systems, equipment, designs and other technologies promoted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

The DICT will also be mandated to harmonize and coordinate all national ICT plans and initiatives to ensure knowledge, information and resource-sharing, database-building, and agency networking linkages among agencies, consistent with e-government objectives.

The bill also provides for the establishment of the Integrated Government Network (IGN) which will act as the primary means for the sharing and communication of resources, information, and data through digital and electronic platforms across the government. The IGN will also act as the government’s primary and focal information management tool and communications network.

The measure then creates a corporate body to be known as Philippine Infostructure Management Corporation for the purpose of ensuring the proper and efficient operations and management of the country’s ICT assets, as well as a training institution in recognition of the critical role of educating both the public and the government in ICT.

Go said that his measure will promote a transition to digitalization, eliminating delays and other problems associated with the traditional way of governance in communications and resource and information sharing.

More importantly, Go stressed that the public must feel that the government is actually and truly at their fingertips, bringing key government services closer to the people.

“Nakita natin ang importansya ng digital transformation in government. Sa private sector, napilitan ang mga negosyo na mag-adopt ng e-commerce techniques para mapabuti ang mga serbisyo nila,” the senator noted.

“Lalo na sa gobyerno, there’s no better time than now to prioritize the government’s digital transformation,” he added.