IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

In an assembly meeting of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) and the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP), SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia expressed optimism that Subic Bay will become the next place to be for information and communication technology (ICT) businesses in the country.

“Our efforts to adapt technology in our changing times have paid off. Technology is an effective tool in our campaign for faster and more efficient delivery of services,” said Mayor Lani Cayetano.

Future transactions in this city will soon be conducted online using a web portal and mobile telephone applications, under an initiative to become Central Luzon’s first “smart city.”

Given the demands for automation and cashless transactions because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Tarlac has partnered with private developer Information Technology Business Solutions Corp. (ITBS) to develop the “Angel Portal Ecosystem Project” in order to improve the delivery of services in a shorter time and without generating huge crowds.

New Clark City was cited during a recent Japan forum for utilizing best practices centered on improving its future residents’ health and wellbeing, and in promoting smart city features.

SCI-Japan, a private sector-led, non-profit organization founded by think tank Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting, as well as media group Nikkei, in July 2023 congregated smart city champions across the globe, through a forum titled: “Challenge of Japan’s Smart City Initiative Improving Citizen’s Well-being,” to introduce some of best practices and discuss how to utilize well-being indicators for policy design toward sustainable smart city business.

State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has partnered with the Korean government agency National Agency for Administrative City Construction (NAACC) for New Clark City’s (NCC) urban planning, smart city development, green energy, and smart administrative systems.

In a statement, the BCDA said it signed a memorandum of agreement (MOU) with NAACC to further develop the 9,450 hectares of land in NCC in Capas, Tarlac.

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).