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eGovernment Forschung seit 2001 | eGovernment Research since 2001

Good governance is the unwavering theme of the “tuwid na daan” campaign of the Aquino administration since it took over the helm of the government in 2010. In his social contract with the Filipino people, President Aquino laid down the 16-point agenda, which showcased transformational change embarking on democratic values, integrity in public leadership and investment on its people to rise above poverty. Several ground works have been founded in wide-ranging issues, such as on economy, gender equality, peace and order, environment, justice and government services. In all of these, the resounding question will always be, what about continuity?

The government should not be alone in this endeavor. The approach must be inclusive, participative and collective. Thus, this section suggests infusion of e-government initiatives and sustainable development to foster inclusive growth. The formula is rather simple: e-government + sustainability = inclusive growth.

Information and communications technology (ICT) penetrates every aspect of humanity, society, economy, politics and security. Relationships are developed through e-mails, Facebook, mobile texts and Skype. Businesses have been dramatically transformed through ICT. E-learning tools have been developed to enable classes in different locations in various modalities. All the while, cyber criminals have become very sophisticated in hacking and destroying adversaries with just one click of the mouse. The government, too, must adapt. E-government should be aggressively pursued for fast, efficient and effective public-service delivery.

The World Bank defines e-government as those referring to the use of ICT by government agencies such as the Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing that transform relations with citizens, businesses and other arms of government. In the case of the Philippines, the E-Government Master Plan (EGMP) was formulated as part of the broader Philippine Digital Strategy (PDS) aligned with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). The EGMP is the blueprint that integrates ICT in the whole of government, which traces its roots in the early 1990s.

EGMP rests on a client-centered government (government portal, open government, open data) and a networked government. Essentially, this comprised the G2C (citizen), G2B (business) and G2G (government) initiatives, such as e-education, e-health and welfare, e-logistics, e-agriculture, e-tax and many others with an “e”, signifying it has evolved electronically. The target is to set up shared registries for better services backed by sufficient infrastructure facilities.

These initiatives are commendable, if properly implemented. Sadly, it remains to be seen. The Philippines has been continuously sliding for the past 10 years in UN E-Government Surveys. From ranking 78th in 2010, it dropped to 88th in 2012. Despite these initiatives developed between 2011 and 2012, the Philippines again slipped in the 2014 UN E-Government Development Index, ranking 95th out of 193 countries. The lack of a unified strategy explains this development. Each of the 19 departments of the Philippine government has its own independent ICT center. If these departments work independently, no wonder the rest of the bureaucracy is functioning this way. This explains why business registration and permits take ages to secure. This is not good for the economy, and this is, of course, not inclusive. Collaborative governance calls for everyone, be it in public and private sectors, to work hand in hand for national development.

Establishing a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) would address this structural deficiency. A Cabinet-level position that integrates all ICT needs of the country, and we have several model states to look up and learn from. In Asia Pacific we have countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea setting benchmarks for e-government. In Northern Europe, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden are global leaders in utilization of e-government services and e-society. There are plenty of examples to follow—what more are we waiting for?

Finally, as we transition to e-government, let us inject sustainable best practices for long-term value that will benefit generations to come. It must be forward-looking that can jive with the changing dynamics of future challenges. Pillars such as environmental responsibility, human capital investment, profitability and social equity should be integrated in the strategic plans. At the operational level, linking sustainability and e-government works well if there is a good enabling policy framework. The trilateral proposition still holds here—systems, people and environment.

For example, in the creation of a DICT, it must dispel notions about added layers of bureaucratic approvals but rather promote efficiency through automatic electronic transactions, especially on forms that can be pre-formatted. It is good for both G2G and G2B. It records and updates real time, which makes it easy for consolidation and reporting when needed. Decisions then can be made based on solid facts and evidence rather than trial-and-error method that may compromise the citizens’ welfare. It acts as repository of vast information that can be utilized during planning and emergencies. For G2C, client satisfaction is the key. Thus, the need to get as much feedback from the grassroots level so that interventions are suited to the needs of the people and community. The bottom-up approach should be enhanced, as well as enough representations from disadvantaged sectors.

In all G2G, G2B and G2C e-government initiatives, it is paramount that green practices are embedded. We live in a finite surrounding that produces fruits when cared and devastates when exploited. Inclusive growth can be achieved with e-government and sustainability, and means more when actually experienced by people rather than just seen on paper.

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Autor(en)/Author(s): Kent Marjun Primor

Quelle/Source: Business Mirror, 10.11.2015

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