MISAMIS ORIENTAL (PIA) — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has launched the eGovPh and eLGU Apps in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro on March 27 to streamline government transactions.
June Vincent Gaudan, director of the DICT Government Digital Transformation Bureau, acknowledged the challenges of implementing digital systems, noting that new initiatives can face resistance.
“We must accept the fact that anything new can be scary. But when it comes to digital transformation, our operations will definitely be optimized, and we will leverage new tools to support this journey,” he said.
Gaudan also highlighted the difficulty citizens face when dealing with multiple government agencies. He referenced a study showing it takes an average of 3.5 days to obtain all required government clearances, costing an individual P1,500 in lost wages.
“If a person earns 500 pesos a day, that’s a loss of 1,500 pesos over three days, just because they need to leave work to process their documents,” Gaudan pointed out.
While the digital transformation continues, Gaudan acknowledged the disconnect between some systems. “Our mandate in the Government Digital Transformation Bureau is that all systems are not alone, but are acting together in integration, all those processes should not be chopped and stopped, but they need to flow and continue,” he said.
Gaudan assured the public that the app is secure and will continue to be optimized. As of March, 21 out of 25 eGovPh platforms, including eTravel, eGovAI, Digital National ID, and eVisa, are available.
Gaudan stressed that DICT is committed to working closely with local government units (LGUs) to ensure the success of the initiative.
DICT regional director Sittie Rahma Alawi emphasized that the digital transformation aims to empower citizens, leading to a better quality of life and a more connected community.
Moving forward, DICT-10 is set to hold a Chief Information Officer conference to discuss further integration of systems for improved efficiency. (HSGA/PIA-10/Misamis Oriental)
