Local government units (LGUs) with outstanding digital initiatives were recently recognized during the Digital Governance Awards (DGA) 2019.
The DGA is an annual event recognizing LGUs’ best practices in utilizing ICT for the effective and efficient delivery of public services to local communities and to business stakeholders. It is a joint project of the Department of ICT, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP).
“This (DGA) is part and parcel of our initiatives to foster modernization in the way local governments handle business development, community development and social services. We aim to make government more responsive and integrated by applying digital technologies to improve key domains such as transportation, communications, business, labor, and security, among others,” DICT assistant secretary for Digital Philippines Emmanuel Rey Caintic added.
Participation for this year’s DGA has increased significantly since its inception in 2012 with more than 70 entries from LGUs across the Philippines.
The age of LGU leaders and the populace was stated as factors contributing to the growth of LGUs’ digital initiatives. Increased in connectivity, the presence of social media and exposure to the ICT industry were also cited as some of the reasons why LGUs are beginning to embrace the idea of digital transformation.
“The younger local government leaders become, the more that they have a better understanding of what it means to be digital,” NICP president Jonathan De Luzuriaga said. “(LGUs’) respective constituents are also getting younger which means that they are demanding a digital way of life from those they put into leadership.”
The list of winners:
