Bong Go urges faster digital transformation of gov't services

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Saturday called for the faster digital transformation of government agencies for Filipinos to easily access various basic government services as the country continues to battle the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a statement, Go said that the COVID-19 situation continued to highlight the need to invest in technology and promote E-governance practices to improve efficiency in the delivery of public goods and services.

Go urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology to spearhead the digitalization of government functions and procedures, citing a survey of the country’s top officials and senior tech executives that revealed nearly half of the nation’s agencies were behind schedule to do so.

As things stood, the pandemic revealed gaps in the system that needed to be improved so that the country could be prepared to face other kinds of crises that may come.

"Nakita natin ang importansya ng digital transformation in government. Sa private sector, napilitan ang mga negosyo na mag-adopt ng e-commerce techniques para mapabuti ang mga serbisyo nila. Lalo na sa gobyerno, there’s no better time than now to prioritize the government's digital transformation," the senator said.

Go cited the example of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation which successfully connected its 17 regional offices and collated their data, allowing them to swap information and coordinate programs faster with other bodies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Go said utilizing digital health technology would not only address the nation’s most urgent needs during the pandemic but also reshape the health system, resulting in more efficient and responsive services. — DVM, GMA News