ILIGAN CITY (PIA)–Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy, during his recent visit, expressed admiration for the city’s development and leadership role, especially in digitalization and tourism.
“I’ve visited Iligan many times, and I am so amazed with all the development that has transpired over the years. I think Iligan, being the only digital city in Northern Mindanao, is indeed an attestation of leadership role and progress that Iligan has been pursuing its development of not only in the business process outsourcing industry but at the same time in the tourism industry,” he said during a press conference held on Mayor’s Night as part of the two-day National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) Summit.
He highlighted the national government’s commitment to digitalization across the country and identified Iligan as a city where the true effects of digitalization can be felt among various sectors of society.
He also shared the goal of extending development to the most remote areas of the country where a free WiFi facility will be established. He also emphasized the need for national government support to complement the city government’s efforts in promoting progress, development, and inclusivity in the city.
Meanwhile, DICT Usec. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue also expressed Iligan’s potential for convergence and innovation, citing it as the birthplace of the “magic” that gave birth to the NICP in 2008.
“Iligan is one of the bright lights of Mindanao, leading the way for the geographical region with the talent you have and the very visionary leadership of the mayor and all the members of the local government. I hope you take it as a challenge to move from being a digital city to becoming a center of excellence for IT jobs in the Philippines in the coming years,” she said.
Moreover, Mayor Frederick Siao shared their vision to intensify the effective transaction of government processes through digitalization, aiming for more efficient and streamlined governance.
“We wanted everything digitalized. From merely tracking all the documents until the finish line. For example, the salaries of the employees, the collectibles for the local government for taxes, and everything else that will make our job easier and that will make our government more efficient,” he said.
DICT also pledged support for attaining this vision through the Electronic Local Government Unit (ELGU) project, with Iligan being one of the priorities. ELGU enables the public to access digital services provided by local governments, including business permits, licensing, tax processing, civil registration, real property tax, barangay clearance, and information dissemination. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
