The City Government of Balanga took an active role in the launch of two transformative initiatives by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT): the eGovPH mobile application and the Electronic Local Government Unit (eLGU). The event took place at the Bataan People’s Center on July 9, 2024. Distinguished attendees included Engr. Antonio Edward E. Padre, DICT Region III Director; Hon. Jose Enrique “Joet” S. Garcia III, Bataan Governor; Hon. Francis Anthony S. Garcia, Balanga City Mayor; Hon. Ruben C. Tagle, Mayor of Abucay; as well as public officials, government employees, media representatives, and various agencies.
The eLGU initiative will digitize local government units (LGUs), improving public service delivery, promoting transparency, and enhancing access to government information. Meanwhile, the eGovPH mobile app will streamline government-citizen transactions, making them more efficient and user-friendly.
Engr. Antonio Edward E. Padre, Regional Director of DICT Region III, warmly greeted the attendees of the event. He expressed his anticipation for the positive impacts of the newly launched initiatives. He highlighted the potential of the eLGU and eGovPH to significantly improve government efficiency and citizen engagement. Engr. Padre also emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the success of these transformative projects.
In his message, Governor Joet Garcia noted that housing most of the province’s government services at The Bunker has already enhanced efficiency. He emphasized that integrating these services into the eGovPH app further simplifies public access to government services. The Governor also expressed gratitude to the DICT for selecting Bataan as the launch site for these two transformative initiatives.
Meanwhile, Dir. Rachel Ann P. Grabador, Supervising Director for Development, Test, and Project Management Teams, served as the keynote speaker of the event. She outlined the app’s features and its benefits for the public.
DICT Secretary Atty. Ivan John E. Uy praised Governor Jose Enrique S. Garcia, Mayor Francis Anthony S. Garcia, and all the leaders in Bataan for their visionary efforts and ICT initiatives. He also expressed gratitude to the esteemed partners supporting these initiatives.
Messages of support were also extended by USec. David L. Almirol, Jr., Undersecretary for e-Government; ASec. Edwin S. Ligot, Assistant Secretary for Management Information System Service; Ms. Susan M. David, Assistant Regional Chief, Anti-Red Tape Authority Region 3; USec. Mark Cristeo R. Gimenez, Undersecretary, Presidential Management Staff; Dir. Jay E. Timbreza, Assistant Regional Director, DILG Region 3; Dir. Eileen E. Ocampo, Provincial Director, DTI Region 3; Dir. Arlene M. Divino, Regional Director, PSA Region 3; and FSSupt. Amando C. Elevado, Jr., Provincial Fire Marshal, BFP – Bataan.
A key highlight of the event was the ceremonial launch of the eLGU app, led by esteemed local and national leaders in attendance. This was followed by a Gesture of Commitment, where local leaders signed their names to show their full support for the initiatives.
Mayor Francis Garcia expressed profound gratitude to the DICT and all the agencies and departments involved in this endeavor. He was very excited to integrate the city’s in-house-developed information system into the eGovPH app, noting that some systems were already integrated. Mayor Garcia emphasized that this integration would further streamline public services and enhance the efficiency of government operations. Also in attendance from Balanga City to show their support were Atty. Jorescel Panganiban, Committee Chairperson on ICT, Councilor Jowee N. Zabala, and several department heads and employees.
The event facilitated the formation of partnerships among LGUs, national government agencies, and stakeholders aimed at fostering digital transformation and innovation in the region. With the concerted efforts of regional stakeholders and the technological advancements led by the DICT, Bataan, and Balanga City are well-positioned to play a significant role in achieving the national objective of establishing a digitally inclusive and resilient Philippines. This aligns with the theme of the roadshow, “Bayang Digital ang Bagong Pilipinas,” which signifies a concrete step towards realizing a modernized nation.
