CLARK FREEPORT – Orphaned by the death of Interior and Local Governments Sec. Jesse Robredo, the first “eGov Awards” seeking good governance in local government units (LGUS) through modern information technology has been named after him.
The eGov Awards was initiated earlier this year under a memorandum of agreement between Robredo and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) and the Cyber City Teleservices Philippines Inc. (CCTP).
CyberCity president George Sorio announced here yesterday the LGU finalists in the nationwide competition under two categories, namely, the government-to-business (G2B) and the government-to-customer (G2C)categories.
G2B covers the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to facilitate business transactions with Local Government Units (LGUs) while G2C covers the use of ICT to ease the public’s transactions with LGUs.
Sorio said the awards, initially referred to simply as eGov Awards, is now dubbed “Jesse Robredo Awards for Excellence in ICT for Good Governance” as he noted the late secretary’s support for it as a measure for government transparency.
CyberCity announced here yesterday the finalists under the G2B category as the local governments of Balanga City in Bataan, Carmona in Cavite, San Fernando in La Union, Cebu City, Ormoc City, Iloilo province, Koronadal City, Butuan City and Cagayan de Oro City.
The finalists under the G2C category are Naga City, Laguna province, Tarlac province, Iloilo province, Negros Occidental province, Ormoc City, Davao City, Agusan del Sur province, and General Santos City.
The MOA signed with Robredo said the awards would establish a “strategic approach to stimulate the country’s good governance initiatives to enable LGUs to become catalyst of change and index model of development anchored in the Philippine Digital Strategy (PDS) 2011-2016 which foresees the emergence of intelligent enabled-cities with full access to information and services anytime, anywhere.”
Robredo then emphasized “the need for institutional capability and sustainability as well as significant outcomes as a result of using ICT as a tool for local government processes.”
CyberCity said “the objective of the awards is to encourage the effective and efficient utilization of information and communications technology (ICT) in the delivery of services and performance of the duties and responsibilities by local government units (LGUs).
It also aims to commend, collate and document best practices of LGUs in integrating ICT in their processes to serve as example and benchmarks to other LGU’s, to improve the business ecosystem of the LGUs and
motivate the private and business sector to actively participate and/or invest in the growth of the LGU’s , and to promote transparency in governance.”
The winners in the awards would be announced later this month, with the awarding rites expected to be held in Sta. Rosa City in Laguna.
