BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government, in partnership with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), encourage local chief executives in Luzon to support the bureaucratic efficiency campaign of the national government by adopting the electronic local government unit or eLGU system.
Developed by the DICT, the eLGU system is a one stop platform with a wide range of local government services, including local tax processing, local registration, basic certification and licensing and information dissemination.
Launched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July 2023, the DILG, DICT and ARTA are now embarking on a nationwide caravan to encourage all LGUs to adopt the eLGU system.
For the Luzon Cluster, DILG Assistant Secretary Ester Aldana, ARTA Sec. Ernesto Perez and DILG Undersecretary for e – Government David Almirol Jr. led the Island-wide eLGU Caravan at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center on June 5.
Aldana, in his keynote message, said that it is the President himself who directed all government agencies, and LGUs to streamline and digitalize government transactions and services.
“In his State of the Nation Address, the President said digitalization is the call of today, not of the future but of present. It is here, it is needed, and it is needed today,” he said.
Aldana shared that streamlining and digitalizing LGU services have gained significant impact over the last few years. He cited collection of local taxes, fees and charges that increased to P208 billion in 2022 from P80 billion in 2018 while registered businesses also rose from 1.5 million to 4.4 million during the same period.
The national government is targeting more than 400 LGUs for the eLGU implementation, 240 of which will be accomplished this year.
The DILG data show that as of the first quarter of this year, there are 1,178 LGUs that have business permit system, including 741 that use the eLGU system, and 358 that have their own system.
“Sa Bagong Pilipinas, sama – sama at magtulungan tayo para makapagbigay ng tapat at mabilis na serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Almirol said that bringing economic growth and development and enhancing public service delivery for the country through the eLGU System needs a whole – of government approach.
“Ang foundation ay kayo sa LGU, kapag kayo ang nag-innovate ang ganda po ng datos pataas sa national level “(You, at the LGU, are the foundation. If you innovate, we will have improved data and services going up to the national level), Almirol stressed.
Perez encouraged all local chief executives to adopt the eLGU system as it will surely eliminate red tape, fast track government transactions, and bring more business opportunities, all for the benefit of the citizens.
“Our President has laid out a clear vision for our nation. A vision of a Bagong Pilipinas. A Philippines built on bureaucratic efficiency, a thriving economy and inclusive opportunities for all Filipinos,” Perez added.(CCD-PIA CAR)
