Duterte to gov’t agencies: Make queueing a thing of the past

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday asked government agencies to digitize their transactions and do away with processes which involved queueing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I reiterate my call for all government instrumentalities to implement systems that shall make physical queueing a thing of the past," Duterte said during his 5th State of the Nation Address.

"Panahon na para mawala ang pila para mapagsilbihan ng gobyerno nang walang kahirapan para sa tao," he added.

The Department of Budget and Management,  Anti-Red Tape Authority, and all government agencies were tasked to make all possible government services available online.

"We need to adjust and adapt in a paperless type of business and work performance. We need e-governance," Duterte said.

This would be part of the transition to the "new normal" and cut red tape at the same time, he added.

Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, on the same day, filed Senate Bill 1738, or the "E-Governance Act of 2020."

The proposed measure seeks to establish an "integrated, interconnected, and interoperable" information system among government agencies.

"In an age where almost everything can be done online and through other digital platforms, the government must harness the power of information and communications technology to better serve its purpose and bring the government closer to the people," Go said.

During the opening of the second regular session, Senate President Vicente Sotto III also highlighted the need to improve the "digital highway" in the country amid the pandemic when physical interactions are being reduced in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus. — RSJ/BM, GMA News