COTABATO CITY (PIA) — The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have recently launched the first digital governance center in Maguindanao del Norte.
The technology-driven center was inaugurated in Datu Blah Sinsuat in the province and was established under the Localizing e-Governance for Accelerated Provision of Services (LeAPS) program.
The program aims to use digital interventions to improve the efficiency and accessibility of public services, especially in geographically isolated and depressed areas (GIDA).
Lawyer and MILG Minister Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba emphasized the importance of the project in improving public service delivery and governance.
“This Digital Center is a promise fulfilled—a tangible step towards a Bangsamoro where governance is more responsive and accessible to the people. We are not waiting for the future to come to us; we are building it, one digital breakthrough at a time,” she stated.
The MILG said the facility is the third digital center in the region, following the successful implementation of similar centers in the towns of Butig and Piagapo in Lanao del Sur.
Alba said these centers have transformed local governance by streamlining access to government services, cutting down bureaucratic processes, and ensuring faster, more transparent transactions.
Datu Blah Mayor Marshall Sinsuat highlighted the center’s crucial role in bridging service delivery gaps in remote areas.
“This digital center will empower our people by simplifying government processes and making essential services readily available,” he said.
Meanwhile, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Edwine Carrie reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to advancing digital governance in the region.
“Our collaboration with MILG through LeAPS is about putting technology at the service of the people. This is not just about infrastructure—it’s about building a governance system that is efficient, inclusive, and sustainable,” he explained.
The digital center is expected to serve as a model for future e-governance initiatives, ensuring that Bangsamoro communities have fair access to government services. (With reports from MILG, BARMM)
