Press Release
July 18, 2020

HIGH TIME TO INSTITUTIONALIZE ONLINE GOV'T SERVICES - POE

Our people should soon be able to avail of government help and services without having to wait in queues and in peril at various agencies, said Sen. Grace Poe, as she filed a bill mandating the institutionalization of e-governance that will swiftly respond to the concerns of common citizens (Napapanahon na ang online services ng gobyerno kaya't naghain ng isang panukalang batas si Sen. Grace Poe upang itatag ang e-governance na magpapabilis sa pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng pangkaraniwang mamamayan).

Senate Bill 1683 or the proposed E-Government Act of 2020 seeks to enable Juan dela Cruz to easily file and receive his personal claims or loans and business-related requirements via a smoothly intertwined online government system (Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Poe, chairman ng Senate committee on public services, na layunin ng Senate Bill No. 1683 na madaling makapaghain at makatanggap si Juan Dela Cruz ng kanyang personal claims o dokumento sa pamamagitan ng maasahang online government system).

"It is only proper to be assured of the transparency and efficiency of a government that is just a click away from its citizens," said Poe, adding that with services of agencies accessible from one's own home, senior citizens and pregnant women, for example, will no longer have to endure bureaucratic layers for their needs (ayon kay Poe saka idinagdag na kung may serbisyo ang isang ahensiya na puwedeng hingin kahit nasa loob ng tahanan, ang mga senior citizen at buntis, halimbawa, ay hindi na kailangan pang magdusa).

At the same time, Poe acknowledged that the Philippines still needs to improve its connectivity infrastructure to be able to carry out this mandate (Kasabay nito, kinilala ni Poe na kailangan ng Pilipinas ang mga imprastrakturang magbibigay konektibidad sa bansa upang maisakatuparan ang adhikaing ito).

"Now is the best time to ramp up initiatives to give Filipinos fast and reliable internet connection to truly enable them to shift to online transactions with national agencies and local government units," stressed Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services.

Under Poe's bill, interoperability [sec. 3(e)] or the capacity of government altogether to operate online in a standardized manner shall be implemented (Sa ilalim ng panukala ni Poe, kailangang ipatupad ang interoperability [sec. 3 (e)] o ang sama-samang kapasidad ng gobyerno na magkaroon ng standardized na operasyon online).

"The government should be able to address queries and concerns interactively through capable online staff supporting an extensive, up-to-date list of FAQs (frequently asked questions and answers)," Poe said.

In order to further streamline permits and licenses [sec. 5 (4)], all business registration-related transactions with various government agencies shall be integrated (Sinabi pa ni Poe na kailangan pagsama-samahin ang lahat ng business related-transaction sa lahat ng ahensiya ng pamahalaan upang mapabilis ang pagkuha ng mga permit at lisensiya [sec. 5 (4)]).

The bill also aims to establish real-time service [sec. 5 (6)], of the procurement process online involving bidding and contracts (Layunin din ng panukala na magbuo ng real-time services [sec. 5 (6)] sa procurement process na kinabibilangan ng bidding at iba pa).

To ensure an efficient financial system [sec. 5 (5)], all government agencies shall be required to reconcile their payment system in one database (Inaatasan din ang lahat ng ahensiya ng pamahalaan sa naturang panukala na gawing integrated ang lahat ng payment system upang maging episyente ang financial system [sec. 5 (5)]).

To safeguard the public from data breaches [sec. 5 (6.3)], the bill mandates essential security measures such as protection of computer networks against unauthorized usage and encryption of personal data (Kailangan din ng kaukulang security measures na ilalatag upang pangalagaan ang publiko laban sa pagnanakaw ng datos [sec. 5 (6.3)] tulad ng proteksiyon sa computer network laban sa hindi awtorisadong paggamit at encryption ng personal data).

"The call for digital transformation in delivering service is more urgent now in the time of pandemic - when mobility is hampered, physical interactions are minimized, and having access to government services in the safety of our homes is more crucial than ever," she said.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology will take the lead in ensuring an up-to-date and efficient e-government master plan (sec. 4) that regularly adjusts to needed changes (Pangungunahan ito ng Department of Information and Communications Technology upang matiyak na magkaroon ng napapanahon at episyenteng e-government master plan (sec. 4) na regular na binabago ayon sa kasakuluyang pangangailangan).

"Our people expect the government now more than ever to look after them with concern and compassion, having exhausted all their resources and strength trying to cope with this pandemic," Poe said.

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