By Emin Garcia Jr.

 

LAST week, Sen. Alan Cayetano, who as chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, urged and reminded both the national and local governments to adopt e-governance “in pursuit of good governance.”

He said all efforts to transition the country to e-governance should not focus on innovation alone but ultimately on how digital technology can be a “game-changing” tool for good governance.

I can’t agree more.

The principle of e-governance bodes for closer coordination, easier access to data and information among departments to arrive at more effective social and economic programs and their effective monitoring of implementation.  It is about “interconnectivity.”

And looking forward, digitalization makes for easier access to AI for validation of data.

However, it appears his is a lonely voice in the wilderness, particularly in the local government sector.

How many towns and cities have so far  budgeted for their shift to digital operations? I seriously doubt if there are even five in the province, including the provincial government itself.

Until we see towns and cities make the dramatic shift, administrative work and coordination for effective governance will remain enmeshed in  sorting data physically and manually, poring over filed documents.

Cayetano lamented the repetitive processes that Filipinos have to go through when transacting with various government agencies and offices like filling up numerous forms with the same information instead of taking advantage of the Philippine national ID.

But making the shift is not about simply setting up computers in offices, and encoding data only.  It not only requires a system that links all departments but protects all data entered.

Take the discovery of deleted files at the One Stop shop and the POSO office in Dagupan City by the Lim administration before Mayor Belen Fernandez could assume her post, is proof that simply installing computers and programs are far from what e-governance and  digitalization of data are all about.  The encoded data in the city hall daily remain and unlinked and unsecure.

Local governments are advised to seek expert help for an effective digitalization for e-governance before embarking on purchasing new computers.

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CASH INCENTIVES LONG OVERDUE. The proposal of VG Mark Lambino to set up a Cash Incentives Program for athletes that brought honor to the province is timely, if not long overdue. 

Such a program is a fitting reward for our athletes who trained hard not so much for themselves but for the country and the province.  When they win gold, silver or bronze medals, no matter how prestigious, these can never cover the costs of their training, i.e., food, billeting, equipment. And since they are not professional and are mostly from middle income to low income households, a cash incentive will more than equate the value of the victory metal medals. 

However, I only hope VG Lambino (and Guv Mon-mon?) doesn’t lose sight of the bigger picture after setting the cash incentive program in place – the needed funding to support the development and training of selected qualified athletes over a period for the short and medium terms.

The Cash Incentive Program may end up being a mere lip service to the cause if no athlete is provided enough training to win in sanctioned competitions.

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FOOTBALL CRAZE SOON. Speaking of sports development, Guv Mon-mon Guico is urging towns and cities to promote football in their communities.

He’s absolutely right when he said: “We a have a bright future in football. That’s why let us promote this sports,” when he formally opened the 10th Grassroots Football Day celebration at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center last week. on May 21, 2023.

As president of Pangasinan Football Association, the governor is in a position to calibrate the development of the football in the province. Apparently, he had this vision 14 years ago  when he organized the football club in Binalonan.

With him at the helm, province can expect more football events and training programs for coaches and players, meaning he is ready to provide funds to make his baby grow!

I can only hope that he will be able to see beyond football and help develop other sports like cycling, chess, tennis, volleyball and athletics.

We have reason to believe the projection of Leo Arnaiz, provincial sports coordinator, that each town and city in the province will already have a football team by the end of this year.

Sana all!

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FILE THE CASES! Dagupan City is still waiting for Mayor Belen Fernandez to make good on her threats to file criminal and administrative cases against the corrupt officials who squandered public funds, taxes paid by Dagupeños, during the Brian Lim administration.  

As the affected scholars, job order employees, barangay officials affirm, they will never forget what the 7 epaLiFes did to them, Dagupan residents will not forget  Mayor Belen’s pledge to make the corrupt pay for their misdeeds committed against them with impunity.

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