Category: e-Government

Overview

The local government unit (LGU) of Loon, Bohol developed the Enhance Loon Business-One-Stop-Shop Initiative (ELBI) for convenient and secure online business permit registration. This electronic registration system is quick, interactive, self-validating, and cost-effective. It is available 24/7, and all data transmission is encrypted and secured. Users only need a computer with an internet connection and an email account to use it. The ELBI has been available online since January 2016, and enrollment and use are free of charge. ELBI won several awards for its innovative use of ICT to improve business opportunities and service delivery in the local government. The enhanced version of ELBI – ELBI 2.0, was launched in August 2017 and was connected to Land Bank’s Link for further improvements.

Challenge

The main productivity challenge that the ELBI addresses is the lengthy and tedious process of applying for and renewing business permits. This process can take hours, days, or even weeks, causing business owners significant productivity loss. With the ELBI system, the Loon LGU developed an electronic registration system that streamlines the process of obtaining business permits. This system allows business owners to complete the entire process online, eliminating the need to wait in long lines or spend hours filling out forms. The ELBI system is quick, interactive, and self-validating, minimizing errors and providing immediate feedback to users. It is available 24/7 and is free of charge, making it accessible to all business owners. By addressing the productivity challenge of obtaining business permits, ELBI is also helping boost the region’s entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Solution

The ELBI addresses the challenge of cumbersome and time-consuming business registration and permit renewal processes in Loon by providing a web-based system that simplifies the process and makes it more convenient for entrepreneurs. The system is quick, easy to use, secure, interactive, self-validating, and cost-effective, resulting in significant productivity gains for both the Municipal Government of Loon and the business owners.

One of the innovative features of ELBI is its 24/7 accessibility, which enables applicants to apply for business permits and renewals at any time, even during holidays. This feature is particularly useful for entrepreneurs who operate outside regular business hours or on weekends. The system’s ability to immediately validate all information the applicant provides before final submission is also an innovative feature, ensuring data accuracy and minimizing errors that could delay the application process.

Another innovative feature of ELBI is its integration with Land Bank’s Link, allowing for a more streamlined payment process. This integration reduces the need for applicants to visit multiple offices to complete the application process and allows them to complete everything online.

Productivity Gains, Outcomes, and Impact

The ELBI provided significant measurable productivity gains and outcomes for the Municipal Government of Loon and its intended beneficiaries. According to reports, the ELBI system significantly reduced the processing time for business permits from days or weeks to just a few hours. In fact, the average processing time for applications using ELBI is only around 15 minutes. This has saved time and effort for entrepreneurs and business owners, allowing them to focus on growing their businesses and increasing productivity.

Moreover, the ELBI system has also improved data accuracy and reduced registration process errors. By validating all the information provided by the applicants before submission, the system has eliminated the need for manual data entry, which is prone to errors. This also reduced the cost of processing and storing data for the government, making it more efficient and cost-effective.

Another measurable outcome of the ELBI system is the increased number of registered businesses in Loon. Since the launch of this initiative, there has been a significant increase in the number of businesses registered in the municipality. In fact, the number of new business registrations has increased by 78% compared to the previous year. This indicates that the ELBI system made it easier for entrepreneurs to start their businesses in Loon, which has a positive impact on the local economy.

In terms of user satisfaction, the ELBI system has received high marks from its users. According to surveys conducted by the Municipal Government of Loon, over 95% of users were satisfied with the ELBI system and would recommend it to other business owners. This high level of satisfaction is a testament to the effectiveness and user-friendliness of the system.

In conclusion, the ELBI provided a significant positive impact on the productivity performance of the Municipal Government of Loon and the intended beneficiaries. The system led to measurable gains in processing time, accuracy of data, cost-effectiveness, and user satisfaction. Furthermore, the increased number of registered businesses indicates that the system has helped boost the region’s entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Lessons Learned and Challenges in Implementing the Intervention

The implementation of the ELBI brought significant benefits to the LGU of Loon and its constituents. However, some challenges were encountered during its implementation.

One of the challenges is the lack of awareness among the constituents regarding the availability and use of the ELBI eRegistration System. Some entrepreneurs are still unaware that the system exists and that they can use it to apply for business permits. The LGU addressed this issue by conducting information campaigns and promoting the system through various channels, including social media and local media outlets.

Another area for improvement is the need for continuous updates and maintenance of the system to ensure its efficiency and reliability. The LGU needs to ensure that the system is always up-to-date and can accommodate changes in the requirements and processes for business registration and permit renewal.

Overall, the ELBI provides valuable lessons for other LGUs planning to implement similar systems. It highlights the importance of awareness campaigns and continuous updates and system maintenance to ensure its effectiveness. It also emphasizes the need for collaboration between the LGU and its constituents in implementing innovative solutions to address productivity challenges.

Resources

Municipality of Loon. (n.d.). Welcome to Loon’s ELBI eServices. https://elbi.loon.gov.ph/about

DICT. (2018, October 17). Best eGovernance Systems Shine at digitalcitiesPH Awards. https://dict.gov.ph/best-egovernance-systems-shine-at-digitalcitiesph-awards/

Jhunie Ray Suarez. (2019, April 02). ELBI 2.0 [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/UF8MgVkmgxc

Municipality of Loon. (2018, October 24). Loon, Bohol – Top Winner In DICT 2018 Awards For Municipalities [Facebook status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/lguloonofficial/posts/loon-bohol-top-winner-in-dict-2018-awards-for-municipalities-loon-mayor-elvi-pet/1131426167011844/

Photos and Other Attachments

Name of the Organization

Municipal Government of Baliwag, Bulacan

Name of the Office/Unit that leads the implementation of this best practice entry

Municipal ICT Office of Baliwag (MICTO)

Focus Area of the Best Practice

Municipal Treasury Office/Citizens – ICT/Operations Management

Summary of the Best Practice

To help ensure efficiency and integrity in handling payment transactions and accounts, the Local Government of Baliwag, in partnership with the Landbank of the Philippines, developed the Treasury Information and Management System (TIMS). TIMS is a web-based, centralized platform that helps in reducing the risks that come with manual data submissions. The system has been instrumental in promoting transparent and efficient financial reporting.

TIMS is also a scalable system that allows the creation of more accounts and integration into other related local government systems. It is also economical as it cuts the costs spend on papers and supplies while helping avoid data alterations and repetitions.

The system is cloud-based and powered through a dedicated server with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to ensure that all data passed between the web server and browsers remain protected. The data are being backed-up daily through an in-house server located in the server room of the MICTO.

Challenges

Prior to the TIMS, the municipal offices in Baliwag had their data-gathering process. However, some steps had to be streamlined in order to seal possible loopholes for corruption, including transactions that were still being manually processed which were also prone to human errors and alterations.
In addition, data ownership or overprotection, which used to be common among other offices, has long blocked the opportunity to establish systems that can help minimize the time consumed in processing payments, as well as in generating reports. The lack of an established system compels these offices to create bureaucratic processes that sometimes slow down the work, which affects the timely delivery of programs to the people.

Given these problems, the Municipal ICT Office started selling the idea to the direct end-users—the local treasury department and its internal customers involved in designing, validating, and using the system. They were consulted to ensure that the TIMS addresses their reservations in shifting to an automated system and to guarantee that security risks and errors are reduced when they use TIMS.
The TIMS proponents also held orientation sessions to help the intended users learn how the system works.

Specifically, these were the steps conducted in developing and implementing the TIMS:

• Conceptualization. The project was conceived after gathering common problems and complaints in frontline offices from the inter-office planning sessions.
• Planning. The development of initial systems, system integration, and budgeting were included in the Information Systems Strategic Plan of the municipal government.
• Data gathering. Consultations and coordination meetings were held to gather preliminary requirements for the system. This also became a venue for stakeholders to give their expectations on the system.
• Purchase of tools. Cloud storage has been pre-purchased along with other cloud storage requirements for the other systems. Partnerships were also maximized to avail of other requirements for the system.
• Development & Learning. The MICTO developed the integrated system, along with occasional learning sessions to improve the modules.
• Proofing. Consultations and coordination meetings with key stakeholders served as a venue to initially present the system, gather more data, and monitor initial feedback to improve the user interface, user experience, and productivity.
• Roll-out. Demonstrations, orientations, and briefings on data protection and privacy started immediately after the system development.
• Next steps. The system remains a work in progress. More functions and accounts are to be integrated, and continuous updates of information and the development of reports can be expected.

Solutions and Impact

TIMS helps in promoting efficiency as it helped the Treasury Department of the Municipal Government of Baliwag to have streamlined and automated transactions. By providing a platform for financial data processing and protection, it opened opportunities for internal clients to save time and serve more people.

Manual paperwork has been minimized, if not eliminated, in offices that transact with the Treasury Department. With TIMS, the local government unit managed to avoid red tape, errors, and other risks posed by manual input and transmission order of payments.
Also, the system allows real-time monitoring of cash flow, therefore enabling local managers to act on targets and scale efforts as the need arises.

The fast and efficient report generation of TIMS also paved the way for faster evaluation of financial situations, enabling the finance cluster to come up with a better budget and income-generating plan.
To ensure sustained use of the TIMS, its development and maintenance were included in the targets of the MICTO and its personnel involved in BIPS development. Stakeholders were given web access for them to use the system, share data, and ensure that modules remain relevant to the people by providing insights from time to time.

Name of the Organization

Burgos Agro-industrial School (BAIS) and Burgos Central Elementary School (BCES)

Name of the Office/Unit that leads the implementation of this best practice entry

Schools Division of Ilocos Norte (SDOIN), Local Government Unit (LGU) of Burgos, Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Focus Area of the Best Practice

Citizens / Customers; Strategy; Operations

Date the best practice was first implemented

25 May 2019

Summary of the Best Practice

Burgos, a fifth class municipality in Ilocos Norte, pioneered the establishment of 21st Century Learning Environment Model (CLEM) Classrooms for young learners. A Special Education Fund (SEF) of PHP 6,216,400 was allotted to develop classrooms equipped with ICT-integrated facilities and learning equipment in Burgos Agro-industrial School (BAIS) and Burgos Central Elementary School (BCES). This academic breakthrough aimed to expose students to digital learning activities in their formative years in school. Specifically, the project aimed to strengthen their 4C’s of 21st-century competencies (creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication), which are fundamental for modern students to excel in their future.

The Challenge

The motivation behind Burgos’ 21st Century CLEM Classrooms was the need to ensure that the students’ education were aligned with the demands of the 21st century. This required shifting from traditional classrooms to a more progressive, modern classroom to nurture an environment conducive to developing one’s 4Cs and making learning more engaging.

To actualize this goal, then Schools Division Superintendent of Ilocos Norte Vilma D. Eda sent school heads and teachers from Burgos, Ilocos Norte to attend benchmarking activities in DOST, Taguig City, Bolbok Integrated National High School, and Inos-Marawoy National High School in Lipa, Batangas 26-28 June 2018. These benchmarking activities gave the school heads and teachers the chance to observe classes that conduct 21st Century CLEM and eventually replicate the best practices in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

Solution and Impact

Mayor Rodolfo L. Garcia supported the establishment of 21st Century CLEM Classrooms in Burgos Agro-industrial School (BAIS) and Burgos Central Elementary School (BCES) to prepare young learners to adapt to innovative learning strategies for modern pedagogy. Projectors, three-dimensional printers, computer units, interactive tables and chairs, free Wi-Fi connection, and other technologically advanced teaching tools were used to help students understand their lessons better. To ensure its effective delivery, teachers from the two schools have undergone a week-long training to participate in the initiative competently and embrace science, technology, and innovation in the education of the Burgoseño youth.

Like any other educational institution, its operations were also halted by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the impact of this leap for transformative education was that it allowed the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, to study and evaluate the effectiveness of integrating modern technologies in the context of the Philippine setting. It also served as a call to action of having a state agenda geared towards initiating development programs involving the significance of ICT facilities and tools integration in the teaching and learning process in classrooms.

Milestones

Although Burgos is a fifth-class municipality in Ilocos Norte, project stakeholders pride themselves that their passion for the schoolchildren through their implementation of 21st Century CLEM in select schools in the region made a mark in the country’s educational system. BCES, in particular, was the first elementary school in the country to have a 21st Century CLEM, while BAIS was the first of all high schools in Region I. In recognition of its success, the region challenges other LGUs to be inspired to upgrade and revolutionize the country’s educational system by focusing on critical 21st-century skills and learning—with the underlying goal of fulfilling the evolving needs of today’s students and making a lasting impact in their communities.

Testimonials

The commencement of 21st Century CLEM Classrooms in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, evoked positive responses from its stakeholders. Burgos Mayor Rodolfo L. Garcia noted the arduous procedure for setting up the said classroom in its inauguration during the Educational Transformation Summit 2.0 held at Plaza del Norte, Paoay. This, in turn, led him to share the virtues Burgoseños collectively practice to overcome such challenges: “It is really a matter of patience and cooperation. But the mere fact that Burgos is the pioneer in Region I, is our pride and honor as a very small community. But most importantly, this is how we value education in Burgos. We have to provide tools in any way we can. This is how we love our young learners,”.

Moreover, in a web article by Ilocos Sentinal, Mrs. Vilma D. Eda shared the current status of the initiative and its expected plans for the future: “The municipality of Burgos has programmed to put up 21st century classrooms every year until all schools are modernized,” She furthered, “May this inspire all of us to level up and we wish Burgos more progress in the future.”

Lastly, in a Zoom interview with Mr. Erwin Ramil, teacher and CLEM manager at BAIS, he indicated that the positive impact of student-centered learning in 21st Century CLEM Classrooms was: “yung sa motivational part ng students naging effective” [The 21st Century CLEM became effective in the motivational part of the students]. This was supported by Secia Segovia, student, during an interview with ABS-CBN News: “marami po kaming natututunan” [we learn a lot].

References

ABS-CBN News. (2019, May 29). SILIPIN: Binansagang ’21st century classroom’ sa Ilocos Norte public school | TV Patrol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB4r1eJDxxY

Ilocos Sentinel. (2019, June 4). Deped-Ilocos Norte inaugurates 21st century classrooms in Burgos. https://www.ilocossentinel.com/home/deped-ilocos-norte-inaugurates-21st-century-classrooms-in-burgos.html

Name of the Organization

Department of Social Welfare and Development

Name of the Office/Unit that leads the implementation of this best practice entry

Caraga Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens

Focus Area of the Best Practice

Digitization and New Technologies

Date the best practice was first implemented

01 January 2016 – up to the present

Summary of the Best Practice

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office (FO) in Caraga is using technology to make the disbursement of social pension of indigent senior citizens easier. Pertinent information about the social pension beneficiary–from personal details, inclusions, and exclusions to the program, to their payrolls and validations–are now digitized for easy tracking.

The information system aims to:

• Establish accurate payroll by eliminating double or multiple entries of names of the beneficiaries;
• Generate efficient physical and financial reports; and
• Promote transparency, especially on the delivery of stipends.

It has the following key features:

• Biometric registration and verification (usage discontinued due to the pandemic)
• Cross-matching of names not limited to the exact spelling
• Data logs about the senior citizen/beneficiary

Currently, it serves as the very core of the program implementation as the data/reports to the DSWD Central Office or any other concerned offices are from the system.

The Challenge

The social pension program for indigent senior citizens is an important program but its implementation has faced a lot of challenges, including data accuracy, payment disbursement, report generation, and stakeholder engagement.

Data Accuracy

1. There was a limited number of technical working staff of the Regional Social Pension Unit (RSPU) to manage the data of the increasing number of beneficiaries from 9,375 in CY 2011 to 62,235 in CY 2015.
2. The accurate data reflected in the payroll have been compromised because of the manual checking of the reports/ data from local government units (LGUs), most especially on the checking of complete names, birthday, age, sex, address, etc., on the submitted waitlisted and delisted report by the LGUs, which resulted in multiple entries of names across the region.

Payment

1. Due to inaccurate data, double or multiple payments for one beneficiary were reported.
2. Paymasters found it hard to verify and identify the paid beneficiaries from one area to another.
3. Considering that no device was installed to identify and verify the true identity of the beneficiaries, there were instances when somebody holding the same ID claimed the stipend.

Report generation

1. It took several hours to generate the paid and unpaid beneficiaries.
2. There were difficulties in generating a summary of the report, such as the number of Pantawid Pamilya members/beneficiaries, number of indigenous peoples (IP) beneficiaries, number of male and female, number of bedridden and sickly, and the number of waitlisted and delisted beneficiaries with corresponding remarks.

Local Government Units / Partner / Stakeholder

1. The LGU staff claimed to need a source of information about the history of the beneficiary in the program, such as unclaimed quarters and personal information.
2. The LGU staff claimed to have no accessible reference regarding the status of the beneficiaries in the program. They need to look for the approved documents for every transaction to answer each client’s concerns.
3. The Focal Person has no accessible reference for the names of senior citizens endorsed for the waitlist to the Field Office. Instead, they need to scan their previously submitted reports to provide an exact answer to the clients, which resulted in repeated reports.

Walk-in Clients / Program Beneficiaries

• Regional Office manually counts or tracks beneficiaries with complicated issues such as inclusion and exclusion errors.

Solution and Impact

The developer-focused first on the very core of the implementation of the program, which is the generation of payroll and prevention of duplicate entries of beneficiaries in the payroll because it is always the concern of the Commission on Audit through Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM), and from there, the developer slowly bonus features based on the request of the staff/persons involved in the program to boost productivity in the office. The office conducted consultations and dialogues with LGUs.

The information system is deployed and can only be accessed internally within the DSWD Field Office Caraga and has consistently been used from 2016 to the present.

DSWD Region XI office conducted benchmarking last 2018 to determine what the information system is capable of. DSWD Region X also did a benchmark in July 2022. Both regional offices wanted to replicate the system if deemed appropriate for their needs.

Before using the system, the office had 13 staff working in different program areas–from the frontlines to the finance division. Due to huge additional slots in the program last 2016, all the staff is forced to create payroll to catch up with the deadline of conducting the payouts quarterly. During that time, the staff always worked overtime since the manual creation of payrolls was time-consuming.

Results/Impact

• RSPU staff does not have to render overtime to complete urgent reports.
• The system reduces human labor, especially in preparing payroll for eligible beneficiaries.
• It helps the timely and efficient generation of physical and financial reports.
• SPInS also helps the RSPU disseminate complex information to partners and stakeholders.
• RSPU staff can now provide an accurate answer as to the status of the application and reasons for delisting to walk-in clients, even in the absence of the payroll in charge through an audit trail.
• Reduced cases of double and multiple entries across the region allow other eligible senior citizens to be included in the program, especially those that need prioritization.
• Easier retrieval of files and information needed.
• Promotes healthier working conditions and simplifies tasks, especially to the payroll in charge and the LGU focal person.
• It contributes to speedy transactions and the timely release of stipends.
• It eliminates the risks of releasing stipends to non-beneficiaries.
• It allows for establishing and managing a comprehensive database of eligible indigent senior citizens as a basis for planning and decision-making at RSPU’s level and in the LGU.
• It does not require additional manpower to do tasks, making it cost-effective.

Next Steps

Currently, the Information Technology Officer is developing a new version of the system that not only caters to the program’s needs but also the needs of the office that implements the program. Some of the features are the following:

• System Integrations within the DSWD FO Caraga (Finance, HR/Personnel, etc.)
• Direct SMS messaging to the beneficiaries
• Standard Operating Procedure tracking
• System access outside the network of DSWD FO Caraga
• Mobile access with offline access
• Asynchronous Execution of Task

Milestones

The information system had the following awards:

• 2022 2nd Best Knowledge Management Initiative (National PRAISE)
• 2022 1st Best Knowledge Management Initiative (Regional PRAISE)
• 2020 2nd Best Knowledge Management Initiative (Regional PRAISE)
• 2019 2nd Best Knowledge Management Initiative (Regional PRAISE)

Implementing Agency

City Government of Tuguegarao

Year Implemented

2018-Present

Themes

Digitization & New Technologies, Perspectives on Productivity, Governance, and Development

General Description

The Tuguegarao City Command Center is a monitoring center with a centralized communication system equipped with state-of-the-art ICT solutions and facilities that can respond to incidents and emergencies 24/7.

The Command Center is manned by the city’s Rescue Team and representatives from the Traffic Management Group, Public Safety and Security Office, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Background and Problem

Being the catch basin of waters surrounding the Cagayan Valley, Tuguegarao City is extremely prone to flood and is mapped as one of the most vulnerable to natural hazard-triggered disasters in the region (Philippine Information Agency, 2011). The Natural Hazards Risk Atlas 2015 also reports the city as second among the 10 most at-risk to natural hazards globally. On top of these issues, disseminating warnings and relaying calls for assistance in the area have been a persistent challenge given their lack of a centralized communication and emergency response system. To mitigate the risks, the city government established the Tuguegarao City Command Center in 2018.

Solution and Impact

Built under the leadership of Hon. Atty. Jefferson Pattaui, through Executive Order No. 28-2018, the Tuguegarao City Command Center was built to help ensure safety and emergency preparedness in the city, not only for natural hazard-triggered disasters but for accidents and man-made disasters as well. Among its services are police assistance, hospital care, fire suppression, and search-and-rescue services.

Specifically, the Command Center aims “to gather and process all information required to manage and control all types of incidents efficiently and effectively for the safety and protection of the communities and properties [through] communication and collaboration with the PNP, BFP, Rescue 1111, barangay officials, and other concerned agencies.”

To achieve this goal, the Command Center was built with a fiber optic-wide aerial network and its own hotline. It maintains 117 high-definition bullet-type PTZ (Pan, Tilt, and Z) closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed strategically in all 49 barangays of the city. The cameras are also equipped with facial recognition technology and night vision allowing for clear videos even in low light conditions. This feature also enables their staff to do round-the-clock monitoring of the city and access to recordings of all incidents.

Since its establishment in 2018, there has been a substantial increase in the number of calls. From the annually reported 3,123 calls received in 2018, it has increased to a total of 15,417 calls received in 2019. The 500% increase could be due to the residents’ growing confidence with the project.

Records also show an increase in the number of incidents responded to, from 6,628 in 2020 to 31,922 as of November 2021. Moreover, the systematic communication process of the command center has also decreased the response time to 3 minutes or even lower. Notably, the quickest recorded response time to date is 1 minute and 18 seconds—from calling the hotline to the touchdown of the responder in the incident area. These statistics can also indicate a growing efficiency and effectiveness to its implementation.

The Tuguegarao City Command Center continues to evolve and develop its services even during the pandemic and it ensures that its personnel complies with the protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.

The innovative Tuguegarao City Command Center has the following notable features:

Dispatch System

The Command Center utilizes a dashboard system that maintains records of incidents responded to, which also provides the footage and time response. Reports are classified according to type and are searchable by keywords for easier retrieval. Any related documents may be requested and accessed in less than a minute. The dashboard system caters to all kinds of incidents, including COVID-19 vaccination calls. Residents may also contact the City Command Center for COVID-19 and vaccination concerns.

Footage Request

The management of the control center also allows citizens to request access to available footage subject to existing data privacy laws. While clients, upon their request, are allowed to view CCTV footage for valid reasons, recording, and copying of the footage are not permitted. Before being allowed access, concerned parties are required to submit a blotter report for the request to be approved. Footages are stored in the CCTV room with restricted access even among command center personnel. The data captured by the CCTVs are automatically deleted after 30 days unless they are to be retained for legal purposes. The management of the Command Center strictly observes the delicate balance between public welfare and the right to privacy. With the provision of high definition footage, the center resolved various incidents such as recovery of lost items, resolving traffic accidents, and other criminal cases in the city.

Wifi Ko, Wifi Mo

Along with the development of the Command Center, the city administration managed to provide fast, reliable, and free internet access to the city residents. There are 101 access points installed in 57 locations, including schools, government offices, barangay halls, and other public spaces.

Live Traffic Update and Analysis

The distribution of the local internet connection around the city has also made live traffic updates easily accessible via Facebook and Messenger from 5:15 PM onwards. Moreover, the command center also utilizes intelligent video analytic software to monitor and manage pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the city’s main roads, intersections, entry and exit points, as well as populated areas such as government buildings, public markets, school zones, and church premises. And together with the live traffic advisory, this helps ease the city’s traffic situation, having reportedly reduced travel time by 50%, and it also enables those on the road to make informed decisions about their commute.

Flood monitoring

Through its high-definition CCTVs and 24/7 live monitoring, the Command Center also provides real-time water level alerts and updates of the Buntun Bridge and Pinacanauan Rivers to all barangay captains, the City Disaster Reduction and Management Office (CDRMO), and other concerned authorities in times of possible flooding. This function reduces property losses by timely operation of flood control and measures, especially in low-lying areas. In addition, real-time updates help avoid the spread of fake news; previously, in an incident where 45 out of 49 barangays were flooded, the Buntun Bridge was claimed to be no longer passable when in fact, it still was. But with the current communication system, the information delivered became accurate.

Tuguegarao City Online Checkpoint Registration

Online Checkpoint Registration (OCR) is a travel management tool designed to cater to travelers or visitors entering the city. Created at the surge of COVID-19 cases in the city, it was immediately used after the IATF announced the removal of checkpoints and mandatory 14-day quarantine nationwide. This system aims to contact-trace and monitor individuals entering the city’s vicinity. It is the first online system developed in the country and was implemented before the S-PASS was introduced. Details required in the form include one’s place of origin, barangay of destination, contact number, date of arrival, health declaration, and purpose of visit. In total, it has recorded 15,641 registrants since April 2021, including locals who went home to Tuguegarao City. Watermarked OCR receipts are sent via email after successfully filling out the form.

Contact Tracing Diagram Report

A contact tracing center was formed at the city Command Center as another initiative in response to the pandemic. The office came up with its own format of report featuring a contact tracing diagram that focuses on visual data of all possible cases and their close contacts. It also provides a shareable Google map showing all possible cases in the vicinity.

Milestones

Tuguegarao City recorded zero casualties when Typhoon Ompong happened in 2018 and after a flooding on 6 December 2019 that affected 56,387 people. The last onslaught of a mega-flood occurred in the city last November 2020. While it damaged several properties and affected more than a hundred thousand people, only two casualties were recorded.

On the other hand, reports showed a decrease in the crime rate from the monthly average of 42 in 2017 to 39 in 2019. Relatively, time response and solution efficiency increased from 47.27% (2017) to 79.92% (2019), to 86.05% (2020), and 90.48% as of December 2021.

In light of the successful implementation of its services, the Command Center has also been attributed in increasing the confidence of the city’s prospective investors. As a result, the city’s business and investment climate has since improved.

The Tuguegarao City Command Center championed the “Best in LGU Empowerment” (City Level) in the last 2020 Digital Governance Award (G2C). Similarly, “Wifi ko, Wifi mo” was also nationally recognized with its nomination for the “Best in Customer Empowerment Award” (City Level) in the same event.

“The Tuguegarao City Command Center has become a source of pride for the people. It was recognized as one of the city’s best practices, which the other neighboring cities are starting to emulate,” said Mr. Angelo Suyu, former head of the Command Center.

To further expand its services, the city government also plans to create a mobile command center to help ensure the delivery of services even to areas that are hardly reached by CCTV cameras and big events such as festivals. The said mobile command center is envisioned to become a bus, trailer, or van that will be used exactly like the main workspace. Likewise, it will be thoroughly equipped with industry-standard technology using GPS drone technology.

Sources

Banguilan, Jeanette; Buslig, Rhea-Lou; Lemmao, Aprilyn, (2018, February). The Compliance of Tuguegarao City in the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Law. International Journal of Advanced Research Management and Social Sciences, Vol. 7 No.2. Retrieved December 20, 2021, from https://garph.co.uk/IJARMSS/Feb2018/14.pdf.

Tuguegarao City Command Center. (2022, May 2) Live Traffic Updates [Video]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/tugueC5

Tuguegarao City Local Government. (2020, December 11). Digital Governance Award: Command Center [Video]. https://tuguegaraocity.gov.ph/

Tuguegarao City. (2022, April 21). Tuguegarao City [Video]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/1231460139/videos/pcb.2247889662030885/704361173936077

Philippine News Agency. (2020, 24 November). Local execs propose measures to lower Cagayan’s disaster risk. https://www.preventionweb.net/news/philippines-tuguegarao-city-organizes-disaster-management-council

Natural Hazards Risk Atlas. (2015, 4 March). Which cities are most exposed to natural hazards? https://www.maplecroft.com/insights/analysis/which-cities-are-most-exposed-to-natural-hazards/

Photos and Videos

Organization

Pangasinan State University

Best Practice Focus Area/s

Strategy, Citizens / Customers

Year Implemented

July 2020

This is a GBPR entry

Summary

Due to the current pandemic, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) advised Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to adopt the flexible learning strategy. As a response, Pangasinan State University (PSU) administration partnered with local government units (LGUs) to establish PSU-LGU ICT Konek, a learning space with an internet connection to students of PSU within the locality could avail. This project was able to support around 1,000 students through the establishment of 37 centers distributed across 26 municipalities.

Background and Problem

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) released seven CHED-COVID advisories containing guidelines for effectively implementing the academic operations of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

In particular, CHED COVID Advisory No. 7, released on 24 May 2020, contained the instruction for all HEIs to adopt the flexible learning strategy in delivering instruction by ensuring appropriate (1) Facility Delivery System, (2) Faculty Complement, and (3) Student Support. Further, the guidelines also encouraged HEIs to maximize the use of technology to support teaching and learning. The advisory suggested actions such as the determination of the level of technology to be used for the delivery of programs based on the connectivity of the students, the establishment of a multi-media or learning resource center to provide support to faculty in the development of IT-enabled or IT mediated instructional materials, utilization or access of available open educational resources, and the utilization of a learning management system.

Solution and Impact

Initially, they surveyed the students’ needs regarding adopting the flexible learning modality. Their survey showed that the majority of their students had problems with internet connectivity and the availability of gadgets.

As a response, the PSU administration came up with a proposal to partner with local government units (LGUs) in establishing a learning space with an internet connection to which students of PSU within the locality could avail. The project was later named PSU-LGU ICT Konek- a Bayanihan project co-implemented by the university and the LGUs, in response to the national government’s call to “Heal as One.”

With 37 ICT “Konek centers” in 26 municipalities, about a thousand students could use the learning spaces to attend to the requirements of flexible learning. The LGUs provided the project’s physical structure (learning space), while PSU provided the computers they pulled out from the computer laboratories of their different campuses. And PSU also provided the internet connection and maintenance of the Center. With the establishment of these learning spaces, students residing near the centers did not need to buy their gadgets or allot money to buy cell phone loads to participate in online learning.

Milestones

Per BOR Resolution Number 91, series 2020, the project PSU-LGU ICT Konek became an official project of the university. Through the campus extension coordinators, the university visited various municipalities and discussed the details of the project. Afterward, the Memoranda of Agreement were fortified to make the project an official joint project of both PSU and the LGUs.