The award-winning 3S (Simple Processes, Speed in Delivery, and Service Excellence) in Public Service Program is Valenzuela City’s ticket to be recognized as one of the 10 e-Readiness Leadership Awardees during a conference held at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila in Makati City on June 18.

 

Dubbed as, “ICT Innovations Forum: Key to Accelerating Local Governments’ Competitiveness,” the conference highlighted the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in delivering services at the local level and in making regulatory functions of local governments more efficient, effective, and transparent.

 

At the forum, Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian described how technology was harnessed in the city to deliver good governance.

 

When asked how the city government came up with business services automation, Mayor REX remarked, “We just listened closely to the people because they are the ones giving us the solutions. We tailor fitted the steps we applied, aware of the bureaucratic lines that we have to follow. At the end of the day, if we meet the same goals and make it easier for the people, shouldn’t we be happy about it?”

 

E-Readiness refers to the level of preparedness of a locality to implement ICT projects and to participate in major ICT initiatives that aim to exploit opportunities and potentials offered by the effective and strategic use of technology.

 

The e-Readiness Leadership Award was based on a survey which evaluated several indicators. Among the major indicators used to assess the local government units’ e-Readiness are: (1) ICT Capability, (2) Technology Environment and (3) Web Presence Maturity. Other sub-indicators include the presence of an ICT Development Plan, internet connectivity, and presence of an ICT unit.

 

The e-Readiness survey is a joint collaborative project of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Science and Information Technology (DOST) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), with support from the USAID INVEST Project. The Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO-DOST) carried out the e-readiness assessment of the 143 cities which participated in the 2014 BPLS Compliance and E-Readiness Survey.

 

Explaining the necessity of ICT in the country today, DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero simply stated, “The Pinoys are becoming extra demanding for services they feel they are entitled to enjoy, especially from the government.”

 

Along with Valenzuela City, the other e-Readiness Leadership Awardees recognized were Taguig City, Batangas City, Angeles City, Balanga City, Cebu City, Mandaluyong City, Makati City, San Fernando City, and Cagayan de Oro City.