|
The National Computer Center, a service bureau and a regulatory agency in bringing computerization to government operations and a prime mover in the development of technical manpower, recently organized a one-day convention on e-governance.
In support of Section 27 of the Electronic Commerce Act which is a mandate for electronic governance directing all government agencies to employ the use of electronic means in various government transactions, a project dubbed as "Jumpstarting Electronic Governance in the Local Government Units" otherwise known as eLGU was implemented and held last March 13, 2003 at the Monte Vista Hotsprings & Conference Resort in Pansol, Calamba City, province of Laguna.
According to NCC, the e-governance convention primarily seeks to enable LGUs to make a head start in adopting computerization by empowering them in terms of their capability to embrace technology and apply the benefits of ICT to local governance towards an improved quality of public service. Said project kicked off last September of 2002 and will run for a period of three years.
On its initial year, the project specifically aims to assess the status of ICT resources and e-governance readiness in the local government and to promote awareness and appreciation of the potentials and benefits of ICT to at least 1,000 LGU Officials. It also targets to aid LGU planners from 100 LGUs in drafting their local information systems plans, develop ICT standards for local government and train 100 LGUs on the operation and use of the Real Property Tax System which is also one of the more important revenue-generating local government applications. Not to mention that the eLGU project also intends to assist all LGUs in establishing at least stage 1 (static) web presence.
The convention revealed reports on how the LGUs rank according to key conditions for E-readiness. The Province of Camarines Sur ranks 4th among the provinces in the country that is selected as Pilot LGU for the e-governance drive. Abra, La Union and Laguna ranks first, second and third respectively based on the criteria which include Telecommunications and Computing Infrastructure, Current ICT Usage by LGU, Human Capital, Existing and Expected Budgetary Resources, and willingness to join the eLGU Project.
To fully realize the objectives of eLGU and eventually make the local governments self-sufficient in terms of employing the benefits of ICT, NCC identified at least six key components which include: LGU IT Resources and E-Governance Readiness Survey; Advocacy and Promotions under which the E-Governance Conventions is initiated for such purpose; Information Systems Strategic Planning; Formulation of Data Standards for Local Government; Local Government Application Systems Development and User's Training; and Establishment of LGU Web Presence.
To date, survey conducted by NCC reports the status of LGUs with web presence. That at least a total of 97% among LGUs in the country have web sites and a mere 3% have none reflect that e-governance is indeed jumpstarting and that a large population of the country is ready for more electronically-oriented advancements.
As an end result, NCC is optimistic that a revolution such as the e-governance will bring the country together as never before.
| 
