Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday, January 17 reiterated his push for the passage of a bill that seeks to promote digital transformation in government in order to help eliminate agricultural smuggling.

Go is referring to Senate Bill No. 194 or the proposed E-Governance Act of 2022, which he filed. The bill primarily mandates the government to establish an integrated, interconnected, and interoperable information and resource-sharing and communications network spanning the entirety of the national and local government, an internal records management information system, an information database, and digital portals for the delivery of public services.

The senator further reiterated his support to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s initiative to strengthen data sharing among government agencies in a bid to address agricultural smuggling in the Philippines efficiently.

“Government should be more responsive to the demands of changing times. There’s no better time than now to prioritize the government's digital transformation,” Go said in a statement.

“The government must use information and communications technology to better serve its purpose and get closer to the people in an era where practically everything can be done online and through other digital channels,” he said.

Go noted that even President Marcos has recommended opening up the database to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to ensure the efficient sharing of information among government agencies.

According to Go, the measure can resolve the problem on coordination between and among key agencies as it seeks the digitization of paper-based and other traditional modes of workflows for a more efficient and transparent public service.

The bill also provides for the establishment of the Integrated Government Network (IGN) which will act as the primary means for the sharing and communication of resources, information, and data through digital and electronic platforms across the government.

The IGN will also act as the government's primary and focal information management tool and communications network, Go said.

The lawmaker, likewise, reiterated his appeal to other government officials to work together to efficiently eliminate agricultural smuggling in the country, saying those who are culpable for agricultural smugling should be prosecuted and punished.