QC LGU cited for best practices in digitalization of services
The Quezon City government was recognized for its best practices in utilizing information and communications technology (ICT) in delivering services to the people during the Digital Governance Awards (DGA) for the year 2022 at the National Museum History Courtyard in Manila on Thursday, March 30.
The event was spearheaded by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP).
Three initiatives of the city government bagged four awards during the event. Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) head Margarita Santos and QC Engineering Department head Dale Perral received the plaques and certificates from the DICT.
The DGA, which started in 2012, is an annual search for the best practices among local government units (LGU) in the utilization of ICT to effectively and efficiently provide services to their constituents and business stakeholders. The awards were based on four categories whihc are “G2C: Customer Empowerment,” G2B: Business Empowerment,” G2I: Inter-operability,” and “G2G: Government Internal Options.”
One of the initiatives of the city government that were cited was the QC Delivers: Automated Document Delivery System which got first place under the “Business Empowerment (G2B) City Level” category and a special award under “Transformational and Disruptive Solutions City Level” category.
The said system under the BPLD allows the delivery of business permits to applicants' addresses for free, providing convenience to business owners as they will not go the to city hall for pick-up of permit nor do they have to book their own courier service, according to the city government.
All documents will be processed carefully before being delivered under the system, the city government said. Aside from the physical copy, BPLD will also release an electronic copy of the document.
The BPLD’s QC Biz Easy: Online Unified Business Permit Application System that allows business owners to apply for, renew, or amend business permits online also landed second place under the DGA’s “Government Internal Operations (G2G) City Level” category.
Meanwhile, the QC E-Services portal that aims to organize and streamline the government processes including business, work, health, or building permit/s transactions, QC ID Application, social services and Covid-19 assistance programs was also cited as third placer under the “Customer Empowerment (G2C) City Level” category.
The city government said the platform makes the process faster and more efficient and also reduces red tape in dealing with the local government.
During the event, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy reiterated the importance of digitalization in promoting people’s welfare and in driving social inclusion.
Thirty-two LGU initiatives were recognized during the event.
The DGA aims to encourage and promote integration of ICTs in the LGU ecosystem, promote citizens engagement with the government, and improve the business environment in the local level, according to its Facebook page.