IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Dr. Phoebe dela Cruz, municipal health officer (MHO), said in an interview that the San Jose de Buan and Villareal town in Samar, a coastal municipality, were chosen as beneficiaries of the program.

The National Telehealth System (NTS) connects hospital-based medical specialists and patients in remote and geographically-isolated areas where access to quality medical specialty care is poor. This is done through an appliance called RxBox that collects health data from patients in rural health units.

A special plaque of recognition was given by the ICT Office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST – ICT Office) during the awards ceremonies that took place on June 18, 2014 at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila. Approximately 400 participants from various cities and municipalities attended the forum and witnessed the awarding ceremony.

The rationale at work in the cancellation of the entire list of voters in the ARMM is the belief that the integrity of the said list is in question. It has always been alleged that the list contains ghost voters, thus in no way could there be credible elections in the ARMM. Notwithstanding the sophisticated scanning for multiple registrations, the President and the reform-minded ARMM OICs have asked for a new general registration in the ARMM.

The gap in the use and knowledge of information and communication technologies (ICT) across the bureaucracy is far and wide, making it difficult to access or even share information among agencies. The challenge also goes beyond the technical aspect of having the infrastructure to process and publish data in a timely manner. Some agencies were said to have “concerns” about providing information because it may be used against them.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Thursday said it is targeting to install over 9,000 free Wi-Fi sites nationwide next year to enhance the country's digital transformation efforts.

In a Laging Handa public briefing, DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo said the agency aims to set up 9,762 additional sites in public places and 162 sites in state universities and colleges.

The future is digital. When the COVID-19 pandemic required strict quarantine guidelines, it was no surprise that business, financial, and even personal transactions went online. One needs only to look into how more Filipinos now regularly use their mobile phones and computers to shop, do their groceries, and even transact with their banks. Our government processes and services should follow suit.

Around September, 2020, I filed the Use of Digital Payments Act (SB 1764), which aims to promote the universal use of safe and efficient digital payment systems for financial transactions involving the government and the general public. It was only logical that more of our government agencies adopted online payments, given the directive for people to stay home or refrain from crowded spaces (including cue lines for paying one’s taxes at city hall). Anyway, more of our people were adopting services such as PayMaya or GCash, which in itself saw an150 percent uptick in registered users between mid-March and July last year.

The five-point technology development agenda involves: First, more public-private partnerships (PPPs) to solve national problems using local technology. Second, development of appropriate technologies to create growth in the countryside such as food processing technologies, and “smart farms.” Third, improvement of industry competitiveness, particularly in the prototyping of automated gateway transit system for public transport and producing better graduates for the outsourcing, electronics, and renewable energy industries. Fourth, enhancing the delivery of government and social services, particularly the Government Broadband Network, National Telehealth Services, and National 3D Mapping. Fifth, using genomics to sequence the genetic makeup of Filipinos, agriculture crops, and wildfire.

Quezon City has once again taken a significant step for the environment and its residents by recently rolling out six brand-new electric buses as part of its Libreng Sakay program. These electric buses complement the 90 existing buses currently servicing various routes in Quezon City, providing free and sustainable transportation for QCitizens.

In addition to being eco-friendly, the electric buses have a seating capacity of 41 passengers and additional standing room for commuters. To ensure passenger safety, they feature air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, CCTV cameras, handrails, and fire suppression systems. The buses are also persons with disabilities or PWD-friendly, featuring wheelchair ramps for accessibility.

As centers of commerce, growth and innovation, cities play a crucial role in driving not only national but also global economic progress. They contribute more than 80 percent of global GDP.

Since cities provide more and better economic opportunities as well as better access to key services than in rural areas, people are naturally drawn to cities.

The age of the “Smart City” is upon us! It’s just that, we don’t really know what that means. Or, at least, not yet. – The Boston Smart City Playbook (2016).

Major cities all over the world including the Philippines have embarked on initiatives that will make their cities smart. Recent developments in the domains of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), digital twin, robotics, and smart grids and meters are driving the development of smart cities around the world. These programs are supposed to improve government services and address sustainability and resiliency challenges, improved mobility, maintain peace, and make the city more secure. Many of these programs, however, have ended up not producing the desired results and do not reflect the aspirations of their citizens.

Interested users or their representatives will have to file with a "registration authority" documents to verify their identity before the digital signature can be issued, stated the department administrative order 11-01 which was published on Friday.

These documents are: a birth certificate printed on security paper, a taxpayer identification number, one unified multi-purpose identification compliant card or two valid ID cards with photo and signature, a valid address supported by a copy of the latest utility bill.

The initiative, dubbed “Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders”, was launched on Thursday at the CICT office in Quezon City, with top executives from the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Center for Information and Communications Technology for Development (UNAPCICT) attending the event.

Long before smart cities were envisioned to be a possibility in the country, one of the Philippines’ leading real estate developers has started laying down the foundation of a smart and sustainable city in the early 1990s, designing a groundbreaking sustainable township in a sprawling 244-hectare prime property in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

This pioneering development is Filinvest City – a vision that was brought to life, thanks to the forward-looking ethos of Filinvest Alabang Inc. (FAI).

For years, Filipinos have struggled with going to government buildings across the metro to process their requests or legal documents, which consumes their time, energy, and resources. But since society transitioned into the digital age, government agencies extended their services to be available online, allowing more Filipinos to access their benefits.

Among the cities in the country, Quezon City is a pioneer in streamlining all its services to function online and offline.

QC was cited for its Computerized Health Information Tracking System (CHITS), which received runner-up award in eGov Customer Empowerment Award (G2C category) and its mobile money real property tax payment scheme, as runner-up for eGov Business Empowerment (G2B category).

The upgraded postal identification card is now recognized as a supporting document in transactions with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) said.

In an article posted on PHLPost's website early Friday, Postmaster General Josefina dela Cruz said the BSP's security, investigation and transport department said the BSP has "no objection to the [postal ID] and will recognize it as a valid identification reference for those who will transact with the BSP.”

The BSP supervises banks and exercises regulatory powers over lending companies, remittance centers and other non-bank institutions engaged in quasi-banking functions.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed to double down over the next five years on its assistance to the Philippines in increasing digital platforms and in expanding systems on the country’s e-government initiatives and cyber security protection.

Lawrence Hardy, USAID mission director to the Philippines, in his remarks at the Third Indo-Pacific Business Forum on Wednesday, said USAID will also provide greater engagement of small and medium sized enterprises and e-commerce, as well as continue pursuing digital interventions in our work, involving health, education, governance and the environment.

A measure set before the House of Representatives proposes to maximise the country’s telecommunications infrastructure to deliver health services seldom reached by conventional means.

According to Representative Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya of Cavite’s first congressional district, “telehealth” can lessen direct and indirect health care costs, especially out-of-pocket expenses that are a major burden to patients and their families.

In an effort to take a significant step towards transformative progress, Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI) announced their partnership with Victorias City Government in developing the Smart City Master Plan, marking a milestone in their journey towards a smarter and more sustainable city in the Philippines.

ADI Public Sector Head Carlos Streegan and Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez led the ceremonial contract signing of the Scope Of Work Proposal for the Smart City Master Plan. This significant partnership demonstrates their joint commitment to leveraging advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence and promoting data-driven decision-making and governance in Victorias City.

Cebu City, which is already a first-class city in the Visayas, is determined to up the ante and become a smart city, like Singapore.

Hence, the local government unit (LGU) of Cebu City forged a partnership with PLDT Enterprise, the corporate business arm of PLDT Inc., to hasten its digitalization.

To start with, they are rolling out free, unlimited, hi-speed Wi-Fi in 50 barangays, including Guadalupe, Tisa, Basak San Nicholas, and Talamban.