THE ILOILO provincial government developed the RIsC-TrAp or the Reverse Isolation and Contact Tracing Application for efficient contact tracing and reverse isolation during this pandemic. The rationale of this technology-based innovation is quite simple – better service. The principle is clear – use technology to serve the public well.
As the government intensifies its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, well-designed electronic government (e-government) platforms are crucial to ensure the efficient and timely delivery of public services. The importance of e-government in the seamless delivery of services during the pandemic and other similar crises cannot be overemphasized.
E-government was introduced in the country in 2000 through the inception of the Government Information System Plan (GISP), which was aimed at computerizing government operations and activities. Following the GISP are e-government reforms such as the e-Commerce Act and the e-Procurement Act. However, despite these developments, the application of e-government solutions has remained incremental.
The long-standing challenges in the use of information and communications technology (ICT) have been magnified amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The manual distribution of the Social Amelioration Program and the lack of real-time submission of surveillance data from local government units are indications that our ICT infrastructures are still untapped.
Barriers hamper the progress of realizing the potentials of e-government in developing countries like the Philippines. One is digital divide, which refers to the gap between those who have access to computers and the internet and those with no access.
Another issue pertains to the country’s ICT legal framework. Outdated laws and policies, overlapping functions of authorities can hinder the implementation of e-government initiatives.
Complex laws and regulations can also increase the cost of collaboration for various agencies.
The inadequacy of ICT infrastructure is also a significant challenge in the implementation of e-government. Among these gaps are the lack of technological skills among leaders, employees, citizens, and vulnerable population; lack of qualified IT developers or managers; lack of interoperability or lack of shared standards and compatible infrastructure across government agencies; and lack of hardware.
We can learn from countries with well-established e-government systems. Canada has been implementing the Service Canada program since 2005. The program provides a single point of access to a full range of federal government services and benefits through the use of the internet, telephone, and e-mail. Over time, the program yielded more services and cost-saving strategies for its citizens.
The success of Estonia can also be attributed to digital transformation. The government invested heavily in innovative IT solutions for Estonians to routinely use ICT in accessing government services.
Let us be inspired by these e-government models. We can start by improving the basic and computer literacy of people, especially the marginalized sectors.
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Quelle/Source: Panay News, 30.09.2020
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