By Marita Moaje
MANILA – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has underscored the importance of digitalizing, integrating, and simplifying government processes to benefit the public.
On Tuesday, DICT Undersecretary David Almirol cited government efforts to advance digital governance at the GovX.0 Summit in Pasay City.
He said the DICT is leading a major digital transformation in government transactions, addressing inefficiencies caused by redundant systems, fragmented data, and outdated processes.
“We’ve spent billions on outdated, unsustainable systems. It’s time to fix the foundation before building anything new,” he said.
“Right now, we have 1,900 government websites, and citizens are required to repeatedly submit the same information across agencies, even with a national ID. That needs to change.”
Almirol said the DICT has already launched 25 digital platforms, of which 21 are live. These include the E-Gov Super App, which consolidates government services like driver’s license applications, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) certifications, and e-banking into a single platform.
Moreover, the DICT has developed the E-Gov Blockchain to enhance data security and transparency across different agencies.
“Our goal is simplification, standardization, and integration, not duplication,” Almirol said. “If one agency already has your verified data, you shouldn’t have to submit it again elsewhere.”
He explained that the agency has prioritized cloud optimization, saving 60 percent in costs, and eliminating underutilized infrastructure by providing centralized cloud services for free to government agencies.
He said the E-Governance Act, which awaits President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s approval, includes provisions to increase government ICT professionals’ salaries.
To date, Almirol said, more than 440 million transactions have been processed by the government across DICT platforms, and 1,100 government systems have been integrated into the E-Gov Super App.
Citing last year’s data, he said the Philippines has climbed to 49th place in global digitalization rankings from 80th place in 2022, surpassing Thailand and Malaysia, and ranked sixth in the Asia Pacific Digitalization Nations Index.
The GovX.0 Summit runs until March 19 and is being attended by government workers from various agencies. (PNA)
