TECH4GOOD
People today have gotten used to using mobile super apps such as Grab, Lazada, and Lalamove for pretty much a lot of things. According to a recent study by data.ai, consumers are now spending more than four hours a day on mobile apps. Why not a mobile super app to access government services?
The public launch a month ago of the digital economy advocacy group Alliance of Tech Innovators for the Nation or ATIN was highlighted by the eGov PH Super App presentation of DICT Undersecretary David Almirol which is planned to be launched in the coming months. Most of those present at the event were impressed by the features of the mobile app which promises to change how transacting with the government is currently experienced.
The development of the technology forms part of the ongoing digital transformation of the government that will complement the rightsizing initiative of the current administration. The mobile tool, which is currently in beta test, will allow citizens to access government services and information from their mobile devices. It also aims to provide a unifying platform designed to replace the existing patchwork of systems currently in use across government offices and services. In keeping up with current preferred practices, it is designed for contactless, cashless, and paperless transactions.
As discussed by Usec. Almirol, the eGov PH super app aligns well with the provisions of Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business Act as well as that of the proposed Senate Bill 1738, or the E-Government Act which 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 biggest challenge is consolidating all the system silos created by government agencies that did not consider interoperability and regard for citizen convenience. The eGov PH super app is designed to aggregate all these separate systems and present them in a single mobile application that will allow citizens to access existing systems without the need for a major overhaul. It will be a one-stop-shop platform for local and national government services that should result in a total ease-of-doing-business experience for every citizen.
The current version provides facilities like eTravel which unifies all travel applications and documents including health, tourism, OFWs, and transport. The eGov Pay aggregates all payment channels and gateways in a single system allowing for a simple way of processing payments. It even features a people feedback portal called eReport that allows anyone to file complaints or feedback and report incidents.
Mobile government services like the eGov PH are revolutionizing the way that citizens interact with their governments today. By providing access to government services and information through mobile devices, these super apps have the potential to increase citizen engagement and participation, improve the efficiency of government services, and enhance transparency and accountability. Another primary benefit is increased accessibility. Many people, particularly those living in rural areas or low-income communities, may not have access to computers or traditional government services. By providing government services and information through mobile devices, the government can reach more citizens and ensure that everyone has access to the information and services they need.
Other countries have actually moved ahead of the Philippines in terms of “mobile by default” applications. For example, in South Korea, the government launched its Open Government 3.0 initiative, which includes a mobile app that allows citizens to participate in policy discussions and share their ideas with government officials. The app has been successful in engaging citizens and encouraging them to take an active role in shaping government policies.
In addition to these benefits, mobile government services can also help to promote innovation and economic growth. By providing citizens and businesses with access to government data and services through mobile devices, governments can encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and help to create new jobs and economic opportunities. The eGov PH super app will feature facilities for investors, startups, and job seekers.
Mobile government services, if properly implemented, have the potential to transform the way that citizens interact with the government and can provide a range of benefits, including increased accessibility, citizen engagement and participation, efficiency, transparency, and economic growth. This does not mean, however, that the government should abandon sectors that are less likely to have internet access. Projects such as the eGov PH super app should ensure inclusivity and recognize that it can not leave anyone behind. Every single government service must be available to everyone, online or not.
Businesses have been using mobile-based services for years to improve services and consumer engagement. It is about time that the Philippine government does the same and put the needs of the citizens at its heart, not the needs of the government.
(The author is the lead convenor of the Alliance for Technology Innovators for the Nation (ATIN), vice president of the Analytics Association of the Philippines, and vice president, UP System Information Technology Foundation. [email protected])