Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, has granted local government units (LGUs) the authority to govern their respective territories with legislative, executive, and fiscal autonomy, empowering them to enact ordinances, manage wealth and resources, and provide essential public services.  As LGUs are often the first point of contact between citizens and the government for various permits, clearances, and taxes, there is a need for efficient and responsive local governance. Recognizing the pivotal role of LGUs in driving meaningful change in the country, the Marcos administration has been committed to strengthening their capacities. The administration believes that no meaningful change will happen if it doesn’t start from the bottom — no matter how intensive the national government’s efforts are to uplift the lives of Filipinos, without the full support and cooperation from LGUs, these initiatives risk becoming an exercise in futility. This is the reason why this administration is moving toward automation via two mobile apps that were launched early this week in Malacañang. Demonstrating seriousness and urgency, the President himself unveiled these two mobile apps: the Electronic Local Government Unit (eLGU) System and the People’s Feedback Mechanism (eReport). These apps are meant to harness the power of technology to make public service better and make crime reporting easier. “With the power of technology, we can break barriers and bridge gaps in ways that we have never been able to do before," the President said. Supported by officials from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) headed by Secretary John Ivan Uy, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) led by Secretary Benhur Abalos, the apps' launch signifies a “paradigm shift in delivering public service toward building a more efficient, transparent, and citizen-centered governance system.” “The eLGU app is a step closer to realizing the vision of digitalization in the local governments while the eReport will serve as an avenue for people to report criminalities, fire incidents, and emergencies,” Abalos said. The eLGU “covers a wide range of local government services such as business permit licensing, notice of violations, notification system, community tax, health certificates, local civil registry, business tax and real property tax.”  The eReport, on the other hand, is “interoperable and linked with the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) iReport, which is a Crime Response Management System and the Bureau of Fire Protection’s (BFP) Fire Response Management System. This allows citizens to voice real-time reports through their mobile devices.” “In line with the priority of President Marcos on the realization of government processes to enhance economic competitiveness, we see the eLGU and eReport System as among the complete steps in realizing the strategies laid out in the Philippine Development Plan,” Abalos said. “By taking advantage of new technologies, we open doors to boundless possibilities, promote transparency, and engage our communities toward more opportunities and progress.” As we embrace the advantages of digital adaptation, looking back — or staying still — is no longer an option. Progress demands that we move forward, harnessing the best available technology, and ensuring its accessibility to all citizens. With the eLGU and eReport apps leading the way, we should expect a government that eases our lives, rather than one that further burdens us with more bureaucracy.