The national government continues to extend its efforts towards digitizing government services in the country to make it more accessible to the public.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo said the DICT is “really aiming to digitalize the whole government.”

“That’s the rationale for digitalization – that a lot of government services are trying to create a and consolidate government services in a single app. We are trying to learn from other countries as well about this,” said Lamentillo during the Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday, Jan. 19.

Through this initiative, communications between the government and citizens will be more efficient. Faster government transactions, processes, and services may likewise be expected according to Lamentillo.

In partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the DICT also established a project called the Integrated or Electronic Business Permit and Licensing System that covers end-to-end business registrations within local government units.

“Kung kailangan nila ng business permit, clearance, real property tax, business tax, civil registry at iba pang permit ‘yan yung gusto nating i-roll out (If they need a business permit, clearance, real property tax, business tax, civil registry and other permits, that’s what we want to roll out),” she added.

Currently, there are 25 cities and municipalities in the country that are already implementing this system. Meanwhile, the DICT, as confirmed by Lamentillo, has a total of 96 memorandum of agreements with different LGUs across the country to further establish the said scheme.