DAVAO CITY (PIA) – In a bid to expedite the digitalization of government services, particularly the business permitting system, among the local government units (LGUs) in Davao region, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Eastern Mindanao is facilitating the link between LGUs and relevant national government agencies.
“We have collaboration meetings with the LGUs, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and other concerned agencies para at least maka go na yung digitalization when it comes to permitting (so that at least we can start the digitalization when it comes to permitting),” ARTA-Eastern Mindanao chief administrative officer Rhuelo D. Aradanas explained.
Guesting at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao, Aradanas emphasized the need to link these agencies, noting that each has its own established system for issuing clearances and other documentary requirements for permit issuance by the LGUs that need to be integrated.
“Ngayon ang nangyayari is may sariling system itong Bureau of Fire Protection, may sariling system itong LGU natin at mayroon naman itong barangay so kailanagn ma-integrate natin ito para at least mas mabilis yung digitalization process,” he explained.
(Now what is happening is that the Bureau of Fire Protection, our LGU, and the barangay have their own system so we need to integrate them to scale up the digitalization process.)
Also, Aradanas said that aside from linking the concerned agencies, they intend to digitalize all processes involved in the permitting system, from clearances from BFP and barangay down to the actual issuance of business permits.
“It’s not only the LGU ang dapat na magkaroon ng digitalization, when it comes to permitting process, kasama kasi dyan yung Bureau of Fire Protection and other agencies na involve like itong pagcheck ng environment and pagkuha ng barangay clearance,” he explained.
(It’s not only the LGU that should have digitalization, when it comes to the permitting process, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and other agencies involved like checking the environmental compliance and obtaining barangay clearance also need to be digitalized.)
Aradanas emphasized that these are vital in creating a one-stop shop mechanism and fully automated business permitting systems among LGUs.
“Kasi ang gusto natin dito is we can apply na online. We don’t need to go to the LGU to apply for permits or clearances, we don’t need to go to BFP anymore or barangay, we can just apply through online, sa ating cellphone and pay doon na rin. They can just email the clearance or the business permit to us,” he added.
(Because what we want here is that we can apply online. We don’t need to go to the LGU, BFP, or barangay to apply for permits or clearances. we can just apply online, on our cellphones, and pay there as well. They can just email us the clearance or the business permit.)
Also, he said this is one way of implementing a “no contact policy” among LGU transactions, thereby promoting bureaucratic efficiency among all government agencies.
Moreover, Aradanas said that they are also closely coordinating with DICT for technical assistance and the system to carry out the digitalization process.
“Sila nagpoprovide ng system at nagpoprovide din sila ng technical assistance sa LGUs kaya we include them sa meeting,” he explained.
In Davao region, Aradanas said that, at present, only Davao City has complied with the digitalization of its services and transactions.
He added that they are set to verify the digitalization of the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte.
However, he revealed that they have been introducing and streamlining the digitalization process to various LGUs across the region, noting that they have to understand the process first before adopting digitalization in their systems and processes.
“Nag move up na kami sa province of Davao de Oro and soon the province of Davao Oriental para mabigyan natin ng guidelines itong mga local government natin before going into digitalization, kasi kailangan natin munang i-streamline yung mga proseso bago tayo pupunta sa digitalization,” he said.
(We have moved up to the province of Davao de Oro and soon the province of Davao Oriental so that we can give guidelines to our local governments before going into digitalization because we need to streamline the processes before we go into digitalization.) (ASO/PIA Davao Region)
