The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), along with DILG, DTI and DOST-ICTO spearheaded the Visayas Leg of the Island Wide LGU ICT Forum at Punta Villa Resort, Iloilo City last September 22, 2015. Approximately 250 participants attended from the list of LGUs who completed the streamlining of business permits processes, identified as compliant to the Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS) standards and deemed one of the E-ready LGUs by the DOST-ICTO survey.
With this year’s theme: Strengthening LGU Capacities through ICT: “Innovation, Competitiveness and Transparency”, the ICT Forum generally promotes the importance and use of technology in the local government unit systems and operations to address the demand, deliver the needs of their constituents and strengthen the practices on transparency and accountability. It specifically offers an avenue to:
1. Update LGUs on the current programs and policies of national government in creating a business enabling environment through the use of technology.
2. Showcase LGUs best practices in maximizing the use of technology in their operations, system and structure for better performance.
3. Apprise LGUs on the different and available system application that they can be used and adopt to create innovation and transparency in their operations and effective delivery of services.
4. Enable LGUs to choose superior technology that fits their needs and meet the demand of their constituents especially in making and doing business.
ULAP Executive Director Ms. Czarina Medina-Guce discussed the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Third OGP Action Plan Commitment during the Lightning Talks. National President of the Philippine Councilor’s League and ULAP Public Relations Officer Hon. Maybelyn Dela Cruz- Fernandez Abrenilla also delivered the call for action remarks on behalf of the LGUs.
During this third and last leg, ULAP was also in collaboration with Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI), USAID E-PESO, and National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) with the support of the private companies –Microsoft Philippines, PLDT Alpha, Canon, Felta, WSI, Bizbox, Ng Khai, DBP-DCI and American Technologies. These partners showcased available innovative solutions for LGUs who can partner with them in upgrading their operations. Raffle items were also given away during the event from the generous sponsors.
This event is part of the continuing partnership of the Innovative Technologies for Open Government Partnership Coalition (ITOGP), in which DILG, Microsoft and ULAP sit as co-chairs.