By Perfecto Raymundo, Jr./PNA
MANILA — In line with the Quezon City local government’s drive to reduce inefficiencies and improve the ease of doing business, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday announced plans to automate city hall transactions using the latest technology.
“We do not just plan to bolster the internal management program. I would like a fully-automated city hall linked up to our traffic management system, our barangays, our planning office, and other offices,” Belmonte said in an interview.
She said one major reason for automation is to create a comprehensive plan based on data gathered from automated programs.
“Data from all these transactions is the most important tool we can use to plan future projects and services. This is where we’ll find out what the people really need and where we need to improve,” she said.
The vice mayor cited how technology can help reduce corruption in government transactions, saying “automation would also minimize face-to-face interaction that can help eliminate corruption, so we have to use technology to its utmost potential in our city.”
Belmonte said the city is already taking steps towards realizing this vision.
Earlier this month, Belmonte led the Quezon City Council in launching “Batas QC”, the Philippines’ first mobile application containing all local ordinances aimed at informing residents about the rules and penalties of each city ordinance.
The Quezon City local government also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies in a pilot project that will allow new business registrants to apply for business permits on their mobile phones.
Quezon City will be the first local government to utilize the business registration application.
In line with the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s “Bantay Korapsyon” campaign, Belmonte also committed to use technology to stamp out corruption and reward outstanding and honest public servants.
She has pledged to back the use of performance indicators in government transactions.
For instance, she said that through a new feedback system, constituents can digitally submit their feedback after completing a transaction. Good performers will then be given incentives by the city government.
