Iloilo finalist in first eGov Awards

The Province of Iloilo's two entries in the first eGov Awards of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines were included in the list of finalists.

This was learned from Information and Communication Technology Management Division (ICTMD) chief Salvacion Sibonga on Thursday (Nov. 15) after she revealed that the eGov Awards Secretariat informed her through e-mail that the province's entries for the two categories were included as finalists in the awarding scheduled on Nov. 23, 2012 at Enchanted Kingdom in Laguna.

The eGov Awards, launched by the late DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo, aims to determine which local government units (LGUs) throughout the country managed to maximize the use of technology to expedite the processing of transactions and services to the public.

It has two categories, namely: Best in eGov Customer Empowerment (G2C) Award which recognizes the measurable effect of an LGU's or line with bureau's outstanding practices in applying ICT solutions in the education and engagement of the public in the use of electronic facilities and channels towards providing improved, timely and relevant delivery of public services; and the Best in eGov Business Empowerment (G2B) Award, which measures the significant effects of an LGUs and line bureaus' laudable practices in integrating ICT solutions and the commitment of its administration in the bureaus' responsiveness to the needs of business enterprises, thereby creating business opportunities.

Sibonga said the province's entries for the two categories became finalists. These are the Electronic Document Tracking System (e-DTS) for Best in eGov Customer Empowerment (G2C) category and the Real Property Tax Assessment and Collection System (RPTACS) for Best in eGov Business Empowerment (G2B) Award.

Sibonga said the e-DTS which was implemented in 2005 was developed as a solution system to improve the efficiency of retrieving the transaction document on-line at any time and tracking the movement of documents in and out. It is being used by all the offices under the Iloilo Provincial Government.

The RPTACS, on the other hand, uses the on-line system in updating the records of assessment for the 42 municipalities and one component city of the province, as basis for collection of the Provincial Treasurer's Office through the Bayad Center.

The project, made possible in 2000 through a financial grant from the IBRD-World Bank, also empowers the taxpayers to access their tax bills electronically.

Sibonga expressed happiness with the inclusion of the two entries as finalists in the first eGov Awards, saying they are products of hard work initiated by her office.

Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. also congratulated Sibonga for the achievement.*ECGarcia/Capitol News