Recognizing that digital transformation of government will result in more efficient, faster service delivery, and transparency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. instituted the creation of a single operating system for all government transactions to ensure ease of doing business in the country.

Pursuant to the directive of the President to ensure 100% compliance with automation, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in collaboration with the Department of Information Communication Technology (DICT) and Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) Authority roll out the Electronic Local Government Unit (eLGU) System in all target cities and municipalities through an eLGU Island-wide Caravan. In Visayas, Region 6 was identified as the host region in launching eLGU System on June 26, 2024 at the Diversion 21 Hotel, Iloilo City.

More than 300 participants attended the second island-wide eLGU caravan for the entire Philippines involving delegates from the National and Regional DILG, ARTA, and DICT, LGU participants from regions 6, 7, and 8, exhibitors, and guests. Ten mayors from Visayas regions led the ceremonial activation of the eLGU System which will ramp up how LGUs regulate businesses and deliver services to their constituents. This was followed by the signing of the Pledge of Commitment of the present local chief executives and top agency executives. Appreciation of the eLGU system was set in the afternoon session of the activity.

Top officials of the DILG, DICT and ARTA graced the event with their presence namely Mario L. Iringan, Undersecretary for Local Government and Anna Liza F. Bonagua, Director of the Bureau of Local Government Development (BLGD) representing the DILG Central Office and Regional Director Juan Jovian E. Ingeniero led the representatives of DILG Region 6. Representatives of DICT and ARTA were led by Undersecretary David L. Almirol, Jr. and Secretary Ernesto V. Perez, respectively.

In his message, RD Ingeniero mentioned a brief explanation about the eLGU System, “Central to the initiative, eGOV PH Super App, the eLGU System is a robust platform facilitating comprehensive local government services, from tax processing and licensing to information dissemination. Today, we convene and affirm our commitment to advance service automation through the eLGU System,” Ingeniero said.

Automation is a key pillar foreseen to uphold the LGU excellence by achieving 100% of cities and municipalities with automated services for business permits and licenses in 2028. Usec. Iringan expressed his confidence that the local chief executives and functionaries can make a possible full automation of the LGU transactions and services, thereby, surpass the 89th rank from the E-Government Development Index.

“The move for streamlining and digitizing LGU services has gained significant impact over the last few years. For instance, the collection of local business taxes, fees and charges increased from only P80-billion in 2018 to a staggering P208-billion in 2022 – an increase of 400% from 2018 to 2022,” said Iringan.

“The number of registered businesses also expanded from 1.5-million in 2018 to 4.4-million by 2022,’’ He added.

Appreciation of the eLGU System was the activity in the afternoon which started with an in-depth presentation of Mr. AM O. Salipot of the DICT on the features of the eLGU system.
Participating LGUs and officials from Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas aired their queries and insights during the open forum and the LGU e-readiness survey followed.
Highlighting the positive impact of collaboration among government agencies and offices, Director Anna Liza F. Bonagua of the Bureau of Local Government Development (BLGD) summed up the conference by discussing the strategic plans and activities geared towards the fulfillment of the eLGU initiative.//