By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Full digitalization of government processes holds the key to stopping crime and corruption, former senator Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference of the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas in Pasay City, Lacson welcomed the Marcos administration’s push for digitalization, citing its potential to streamline transactions and curb graft.
“Ako natutuwa sa pronouncement ng Pangulo (na) patungo tayo sa full digitalization. Pag nagkaroon ng digital government, hindi lang bibilis lahat na transaction kundi mabababawsan ang graft and corruption dahil walang human intervention, puro online (I am glad with the President’s pronouncement that we are aiming for full digitalization. Once we achieve this, we will have not only faster transactions but also less graft and corruption because there is no human intervention and everything is done online),” he said.
Lacson said payment of fees will be done online, which will not provide opportunities for corruption.
He said that while several anti-corruption laws have been enacted, including some he authored, implementation remains a challenge due to human intervention.
He cited the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, which mandates specific timelines for government transactions, but has been plagued by non-compliance.
Another is the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), which was meant to automate the Bureau of Customs (BOC) but has yet to fully materialize.
“I asked Customs officials during a budget hearing to submit their requirements for automation, but they never submitted them,” Lacson recalled.
Lacson also pointed to the Philippine Identification System Act, which he sponsored, to simplify government transactions and enhance crime prevention.
“Many Filipinos who applied for their national ID have yet to receive them because of reported interventions in the bidding and awarding process,” he said.
Should he secure a Senate seat, Lacson vowed to use Congress’ oversight function to ensure laws are properly implemented, and formulation of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of laws will not seem to create a new law or amend what Congress has approved. (PNA)
