By Brian Jules Campued
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) plans to double the number of free Wi-Fi sites in the country this year, an official said Wednesday.
During a press briefing in Malacañang, DICT Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. stressed the need to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to local government units to implement the “eLGU” program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“In fact, ang part ng effort din po ng DICT ay habang nag-i-implement ang DILG at DICT at ARTA [Anti-Red Tape Authority] ng eLGU kailangan samahan na rin ng connectivity, kailangan magsasabay siya para parallel iyong effort, ” he added.
The DICT official also reported that about 25,000 sites for free Wi-Fi were installed before the end of 2023.
The eLGU system streamlines several government services, including processing of business permits, community tax, health certificates, local civil registry records, business tax, and real property tax among others, through digitalization.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. reiterated the impact of this initiative, which was implemented through reforms on Ease of Doing Business Act, in increasing the revenue collection of the government.
He stated that growth in revenues from local business taxes, fees, and chargers reached a total of P208 billion in 2022 compared to about P80 billion recorded in 2018.
“That is times four. So, malaking bagay talaga ito na pasimplehan mo ang proseso, na you’re into digital,” Abalos said.
“Another impact of the EODB is the increased number of registered businesses from 1.5 million in 2018 to 4.4 million in 2022.”
As of December 2023, a total of 921 LGUs or 60% are already compliant with the call for digitalization services – of which, about 799 localities use the eLGU system while 122 LGUs have their own systems.
“Mas mabilis kung cellphone lang. Sa ngayon po, 60% na ang na-digital pero of course ibang isyu iyong ilan ba sa kanila ang may kaya nang tumanggap ng bayad, ng online application at makapagbayad – kakaunti pa lang po iyon ‘no depende sa lugar,” said Abalos.
Abalos assured that more LGUs will be able to comply with the eLGU program.
“Sa Metro Manila halos lahat wala tayong problema. So, iyon po ang ginagawa namin ngayon ng DICT, ng ARTA – umiikot pa kami,” he added. – avds
