Category: Regulatory Reform

Implementing Agency:

Commission on Audit (COA)

Year Implemented:

2002-present

Themes:

Management for Productivity, Quality and Agility, Digitization & New Technologies, and Productivity and Public Sector Data Measurement and Analysis

General Description

The Commission on Audit’s (COA) implementation of the New Government Accounting System (NGAS) and Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS), and its particular focus on computerization improved the e country’s  Financial Management Information System (FMIS), Several innovations launched by the commission, namely the  Electronic New Government Accounting System (eNGAS), Electronic Budget System (eBudget System), Annual Financial Reporting System (AFRS), eTicketing System, and Training Management System (TMS), were geared towards making the country’s FMIS more efficient, transparent, reliable, and compliant with international standards.

Background and Problem 

COA’s Old Government Accounting System (OGAS) was not compliant with International Accounting Standards. It was hampered by technological limitations, encountered issues with the late submission of financial statements from National Government Agencies, and was unable to track and record other relevant information such as the training courses conducted by the commission.

Solution and Impact

A number of innovations were rolled out to address the aforementioned problems:  the Electronic New Government Accounting System (eNGAS), the Electronic Budget System (eBudget System), the Annual Financial Reporting System (AFRS), the eTicketing System, and the Training Management System (TMS).

The eNGAS aims to simplify government accounting, conform to international accounting standards, and generate periodic and relevant financial reports for better monitoring of performance through the setting up of accounting software that ensures correctness, reliability, completeness, and timeliness. It is used in generating financial reports following the Philippine Public Sector Accounting Standards (PPSAS).

The eBudget System, on the other hand, is an application system developed and designed by the commission to record and keep track of budget-related transactions, such as appropriations, allotments, sub-allotments, special allotments, obligations incurred, and adjustments to allotments and obligations. It also facilitates the monitoring of the status and balances of these allotments and obligations (COA, 2017).

The AFRS is a web-based application that allows government agencies to upload their financial statements in place of manual submissions. It seeks to ensure prompt submission of the reports and facilitate the consolidation of financial statements faster and more efficiently (COA, 2017).

The eTicketing System, a web-based tool used by COA in rendering technical assistance to eNGAs and eBudget System users, serves as a venue to discuss concerns pertaining, but not limited to, the installation, execution of scripts, and the glitches encountered while utilizing the system (COA, 2017). It can be accessed through the COA website with login credentials provided to trained users during their capacity-building training. 

Lastly, the TMS, also a web-based application, was designed to keep track of the training conducted by COA Government Accountancy Sector (GAS) and COA Professional and Institutional Development Sector (PIDS). It stores relevant information about the training activities segregated per training title such as International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), Government Accounting Manual (GAM), and eNGAS / eBudget System, as well as the number of agencies involved and the number of participants, resource persons, training dates, and other relevant information.

Milestones

To achieve lasting and sustainable public sector accounting and financial reporting reforms, COA is continuously enhancing and implementing the computerized accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting system. While most enhancements to the eNGAS and eBudget system are driven by new issuances relevant to accounting, there are also efforts to make a web-based eNGAS.

There are also pending requests for the installation of the eNGAS and eBudget system, but the challenge is building the capacity of  the requesting parties to use the systems. Most of the NGAs are already using the eNGAS system and the majority of the requests are coming from LGUs.

Testimonials

“The national government agencies trained are incredibly happy with eNGAS and eBudget System because they can easily generate trial balances, financial statements, and can be easily accessed by the assigned auditors. One can easily generate schedules as well as determine the aging of accounts receivables and payables. On the budgeting side, one can easily check the remaining budget. This is the benefit of computerization – results are quick, reliable, and well-documented.” – Mr. Romeo C. Cruz, State Auditor IV, COA (personal communication, July 3, 2020)

“Operations became more efficient because of the speed afforded by the technology, errors are minimized or limited because there are adequate controls placed in the system—it is easy to limit responsibility areas in a computerized environment.” – Dir. Lucila M. Isidro, Director IV, Accounting Systems Development and Other Services Office (ASDOSO), COA (personal communication, July 3, 2020).

Photos

eTicketing System Website (Source: http://gas.coa.gov.ph/eticket/index.php)

Annual Financial Reporting System Website (Source: http://gas.coa.gov.ph/AFRSv2/login.php)

Sources

COA. (2013, June 19). COA circulars calendar year 2001. Retrieved from

https://www.coa.gov.ph/index.php/2013-06-19-13-06-41/1-circulars/category/4465-cy-2001

COA. (n.d.). Updates on eNGAS, eBudget System and other related application systems

[PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://slideplayer.com/slide/7806868/
COA. (2017). E-ticketing – Commission on Audit. Retrieved from https://gas.coa.gov.ph/eticket/.

Implementing Agency:

Municipal Government of Loon, Bohol

Year Implemented:

2017 – present

Themes:

Management for Productivity, Quality and Agility, and Digitization & New Technologies

General Description

The ELBI 2.0 (Enhanced Loon Business One-Stop Shop Initiative 2.0) streamlines the application process for business permits in Loon, Bohol by leveraging citizens’ familiarity with the internet and smartphones.

Background and Problem

Business permit renewal is an annual requirement for  business owners. Before the implementation of ELBI 2.0, the transaction took ten steps, and involved filling up five separate forms. The turnaround time for the permit was up to two days even with complete and proper requirements, and could take longer if any issues emerge during the process. Because of the lengthy process and the tendency of most business owners to put off processing permits until the deadline, queues tend to be long, and penalties are incurred by business owners because of missed deadlines. 

Solution and Impact

In 2016, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) issued a Joint Memorandum Circular that revises the standards in processing business permits and licenses in all cities and municipalities. Sections 6.5 and 6.7 mandate the aforementioned departments to assist local governments in computerizing and automating their processes as well as in employing electronic and online technology in the processing of business permits (DILG, DTI, & DICT, 2016). To comply with this issuance, ELBI 2.0, an online end-to-end process for business permit renewal, was launched in January 2017, providing the following advantages to its users:

• Convenient – it is quick and simple to use, as well as secure.
• Interactive – information exchange is immediate and online, users get immediate feedback from the system during the application.
• Self-validating – errors are minimized because all the information supplied by the applicant is validated before final submission.
• Fast – response or acknowledgment time is quicker than manual application.
• Readily available – ELBI is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays.
• Secure – return and payment transactions are more secure, as all data transmission is encrypted.
• Cost-effective – processing cost of returns and payments is minimized (e.g. receiving, pre-processing, encoding, error-handling, and storage) (Municipality of Loon, 2016).

Applicants must first register an account to access the platform. 

             Screenshot of ELBI 2.0 registration page (Source: Municipality of Loon) 

After creating an account and logging in, applicants are taken to a unified form for the Business Permit or Renewal where they may input their business’ details and credentials.

               Screenshot of ELBI 2.0 business permit application form (Source: Loon LGU)

Towards the end of the application form, applicants are asked to attach documentary requirements. Following the submission of the form, it  is  sent to the Business Permit Licensing Office (BPLO) for assessment. The BPLO then email the applicant the summary of assessed fees, which he or she can settle online (Landbank, GCash, Bancnet) through the ELBI Electronic Payment Portal (ELBI PAY) or personally through the Municipal Treasurer’s office.

Screenshot of ELBI 2.0 business permit application form (Source: Municipality of Loon)

The streamlined process saves time, effort, and resources, as well as addresses the common issues they constantly encounter in the previous method. This technology is especially useful in the new normal as it makes it possible for the municipal government to maintain the same, if not better quality of service, while adhering to pandemic safety protocols.

Milestones 

In recognition of its innovation leadership, Loon was awarded the Best in eGov Business Empowerment Award – Municipality Level at the digitalcitiesPH Awards on 12 October 2018, making the municipality’s work a benchmark for other local government units to replicate.

Testimonials

“I have a limited time to transact with the LGU regarding permit processing and payment of fees. I availed the ELBI PAY under ELBI 2.0 to pay for my business’s assessed fees as this is the most suitable way for me.” – Business owner of Vipe Internet Cafe  

“I have paid for my family’s waterworks billing through ELBI PAY since the automated facility made it convenient me considering I’m working abroad.” – Overseas Filipino Worker based in Kuwait

“I have paid for my water bill from out-of-office since I was doing fieldwork and the bill was due. I have used ELBI PAY to avoid penalty and disconnection.” – Municipal Officer (C. Relampagos, personal communication, June 22, 2020)

Sources

DILG, DTI, & DICT. (2016, September 5). Revised standards in processing business permits and licenses in all cities and municipalities. Retrieved from https://dilg.gov.ph/issuances/jc/RevisedStandards-in-Processing-Business-Permits-and-Licenses-in-All-Cities-and-Municipalities-/65

Municipality of Loon. (2016, December 23). Welcome to Loon’s ELBI eServices. Retrieved from https://elbi.loon.gov.ph/about
DICT. (2018, October 17). Best eGovernance systems shine at digitalcitiesPH Awards. Retrieved from https://dict.gov.ph/best-egovernance-systems-shine-at-digitalcitiesph-awards/

Implementing Agency:

Penang State Government, Penang, Malaysia

Year Implemented:

2019-present

Themes:

Digitization & New Technologies, and Management for Productivity, Quality, and Agility

General Description

The City Council of Penang Island (MBPP) employs facial recognition technology to reduce crimes through artificial intelligence that cross-references visual input to the police’s database of known offenders. This technology is an enhancement to the already extensive network of CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras used in the state of Penang.

Background and Problem

Penang, with an urbanization level of 90.8% is among the most urbanized states in Malaysia (Department of Statistics Malaysia, 2015; Statista, 2019; The World Bank, 2015 in Woo K. & Khoo, S, 2020). As with most highly urbanized places, challenges such as traffic, waste management, and crime are rife, and there is a need for innovative solutions to ensure sustainable growth.

Solution and Impact

CCTVs were first installed and used in Penang Island in 2008 to improve city management. By 2013, the MBPP created a CCTV control room and installed an additional 767 CCTVs in crime hotspots and road junctions that required close monitoring of traffic (Channel News Asia, 2019).

The MBPP upgraded their CCTV control center in 2017 and set up an Intelligence Operation Center (IOC) in collaboration with IBM. Through the IOC, MBPP had access to real-time data on illegal parking, illegal dumping, traffic congestion, street light damage, and flash floods and other emergencies.

Facial recognition technology was introduced in 2019 to enhance the MBPP’s capacity to address street-level crime. It works by cross-referencing visual input from the camera feeds with the system’s database of known criminals. This allows law enforcement to monitor the movements of potential perpetrators, with a system alert being triggered by 80-90% accuracy match (Channel News Asia, 2019).

The initiative has received positive feedback from law enforcement, as it has allowed them to more efficiently deploy their manpower. Concerns about potential violations of privacy and due process have been addressed by the MBPP, citing that apprehensions are still bound by the law and the standard operating procedures of the police. Human rights and constitutional lawyers have also provided guidance on how to ensure that the system does not violate citizen’s rights through the same mechanism that ensures their safety.

Milestones

Currently, a total of 935 CCTVs have been installed at Penang Island, with 913 dedicated to crime hotspots and high traffic areas. These are monitored at 5 CCTV control centers housed in the MBPP office and in various police stations around the island.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCTV cameras were also equipped with public address speakers in order to relay messages to the public and strengthen their compliance with social distancing and other prescribed health protocols. MBPP is also looking at employing facial registration technology to help with contact tracing.

In recognition of its innovation, MBPP was nominated as a finalist in the 2020 International Data Corporation Asia Pacific Smart City Awards under the Public Safety (Smart Policing) category (CIO, 2020). 

Photos

CCTV Poles at Site (Source: MBPP Engineering Department)

CCTV Control Center (Source: MBPP Engineering Department)

Sources

Woo K. & Khoo. (2020, June). Ecology and new urban program: A case study of Penang state own brand of affordable housing program. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2226585619301359#:~:text=Among%20the%2013%20states%20of,Malaysian%20state%20by%20land%20mass

Channel News Asia. (2019, Jan 2). Penang to equip CCTV cameras with facial recognition inbid to reduce crime. Retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/penang-facial-recognition-identify-criminals-cctv-11080092

The Star. (2019, January 3). Use of biome­tric facial recognition must be regulated. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/03/use-of-biometric-facial-recognition-must-be-regulated/. 

CIO. (2020, March 31). Southeast Asia’s ‘smart cities’ project finalists. Retrieved from https://www.cio.com/article/3535221/southeast-asia-s-smart-cities-project-finalists.html

Inn, T. (2020, March 27). Smart City Technologies Take on COVID-19. Retrieved from https://penanginstitute.org/publications/issues/smart-city-technologies-take-on-covid-19/
MBPP Engineering Department. (2021). Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) System MBPP. [PowerPoint slides].

Implementing Agency:

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)

Year Implemented:

2017-present

Themes:

Management for Productivity, Quality and Agility, Digitization & New Technologies, and Perspectives on Productivity, Governance, and Development

General Description

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) established an Operations Center in 2017 to enhance communication and coordination among government agencies before, during, and after disaster events. Designed to be operational around the clock, it is equipped with working areas for its member agencies, a monitoring area, and a media center for instantaneous dissemination for the citizens. 

Background and Problem

Because of its geographic location, the Philippines is considered as one of the most high-risk countries when it comes to natural disasters. The country is located in the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a region where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. It is also in the region called the Typhoon Belt, hosting an average of 20 typhoons per year, five of which are often destructive (ADRC, 2018). 

Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name “Haiyan”) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on 8 November 2013. It made its first landfall over Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and swept through provinces in the central part of the Philippines. Yolanda left in its wake 6,300 people dead, 1,062 missing, and 28,688 injured. Economic losses were estimated to be around USD 13 billion (Prevention Web, 2018). The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment conducted by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) pegged the damages and losses to be worth PHP 89.6 billion and PHP 42.8 billion respectively, while recovery and reconstruction would require about PHP 104.6 billion (NDRRMC, 2014).

According to former Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Yolanda highlighted the importance of prioritizing communication and coordination among government agencies during disasters (Interaksyon, 2018).

Solution and Impact

The construction of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC) started in 2014 and was completed in 2017. A three-storey building situated inside Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, the NDRRMOC manages to house with its total floor area of 600 square meters the nerve center of the country’s disaster response efforts (Philstar, 2014). 

                    NDRRMC Operation Center’s Situation Room (Source: MatthewLorenz, 2018)

NDRRMOC functions as a regular office during normal conditions with a skeletal team during off-office hours (5:00 pm onwards), weekends, and holidays. During emergency conditions and other disaster situations, the NDRRMOC activates its Duty Alert System where personnel work 24/7 to monitor the situation (NDRRMC 2016). This allows the NDRRMC to regulate and vet the information used by operations on the ground, logged in official reports, and released to the media for dissemination to the public. 

The NDRRMOC facilities include a situation room—with a video wall used to monitor any developing disaster situations—a communications room, a dedicated IT department that all technical equipment are fully functional, and multiple conference rooms used for coordination with relevant parties and concerned member agencies.

Milestones

The NDRRMC established Alternate Government Command and Control Centers (GCCCs) in three major islands: New Clark City in Tarlac for Luzon; General Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Mactan for Visayas; and Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City for Mindanao. These centers operate in the same manner as the NDRRMC Operations Center, and often in conjunction with it, ensuring continuity of operations even if Metro Manila itself is struck by disaster (OCD, 2019).

Photos

NDRRMC Operations Center’s Facilities (Source: OCD)

Sources

Asian Disaster Reduction Center. (2018, May 8). Information on disaster risk reduction of the member countries – Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.adrc.asia/nationinformation.php?NationCode=608&Lang=en

Office of Civil Defense. (2019). The civil defense gazette: 2019 special edition [PDF file]. Retrieved from http://www.ocd.gov.ph/attachments/category/31/2019-Special-Edition-Gazette.pdf

Malasig, J. (2018, September 18). The story behind NDRRMC’s Intelligent Operations Center. Interaksyon. Retrieved from https://interaksyon.philstar.com/breaking-news/2018/09/18/134136/the-story-behind-ndrrmcs-intelligent-operations-center/. 

MatthewLorenz. (2018, September 15). NDRRMC at work!. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/9g09zn/ndrrmc_at_work/

NDRRMC. (2016). National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management operations center

– standard operating procedures and guidelines

NDRRMC. (2014). Y it happened: learning from Typhoon Yolanda [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/2926/Y_It_Happened.pdf

Romero, A. (2014, July 9). NDRRMC to have new operations center. Philstar. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/metro/2014/07/09/1344089/ndrrmc-have-new-operations-center. 

Prevention Web. (2018, November 8). Five years on: How Haiyan shocked the world. Retrieved from https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/61777#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Philippines%20National,92%20percent%20were%20from%20Leyte.

Implementing Agency

Department of Information and Communications Technology

Implementation Date

23 April – 31 December 2020

Themes

Management for Productivity, Quality and Agility, and Digitization & New Technologies

General Description

RapidPass.ph streamlines the application of frontliners, other Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR), and priority vehicles by allowing them to secure their passes online. This affords convenience to the frontliners and APORs while complying with the government’s COVID-19 protocols.

Background and Problem

On 16 March 2020 Luzon was placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) protocols (Office of the President, 2020). Community lockdowns were implemented to arrest the rate of community transmissions and to prevent healthcare services from being overwhelmed. Checkpoints were also put in place to ensure that the movement of people is controlled. During this period, the movement of necessary goods and services was hampered, transportation was limited, and frontliners had a difficult time going to and from their places of duty (V. Loyola, personal communication, February 24, 2020).

Solution and Impact

As a remedy for these issues, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), introduced the RapidPass System, which aims to fast-track the movement and access of frontliners and priority vehicles at designated checkpoints by expediting the verification of identities. 

The system has three components: an online registration portal, a dashboard used by approving government agencies, and a scanning function for use at designated checkpoints. Frontliners and other APORs, such as delivery personnel, responders, and members of the skeleton workforce of industries deemed essential, can register for a digital pass through the system, which can then be validated by the approving government agency assigned to their APOR Type. Upon approval, APORs receive a unique QR code that can be scanned at checkpoints (DCTx, 2020). APORs can keep the electronic QR codes in their phones or have them printed and laminated for easier scanning.

RapidPass QR code on a cellphone and printed and worn as ID cards (Source: Valente, 2020) 

RapidPass QR code install on a priority vehicle (Source: F. De la Pena, 2020)

Milestones 

The RapidPass System was implemented over Metro Manila from April to December 2020. An estimated 1,000,000 frontliners, APORs, and priority vehicles have utilized the RapidPass at over 200 designated checkpoints. All RapidPass QR codes issued to APORs expired on 31 December 2020.

In 2021, multiple local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila implemented their own versions of RapidPass, such as Kyusi Pass (Quezon City), MandaTrack (Mandaluyong City), ValTrace (Valenzuela City), and Pasig Pass (Pasig City), among others. These derivative systems, however, focus on contact tracing rather than the mobility of essential personnel. Scanning the QR code of a specific establishment allows patrons to fill up the establishment’s contact tracing form using their phones. 

Sources

DCTx. (2020, April 3). RapidPass.ph FAQs. Retrieved from https://dctx.ph/rapidpass-faqs/

DICT. (2020, July 15). RapidPass. Retrieved from https://dict.gov.ph/rapidpass/

De la Pena, F. (2020, March 31). To assist our front-liners in their battle against the COVID-19 crisis, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has partnered with a non-profit local software developer organization to develop a system that can help decongest our checkpoints … [Facebook Update]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/dostSecFTP/posts/1548013948683497

Office of the President. (2020, March 17). Declaring a state of calamity throughout the Philippines due to Corona Virus disease 2019. Retrieved from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2020/03/16/proclamation-no-929-s-2020/

Valente, C. (2020, April 4). Govt launches RapidPass for Covid-19 frontliners. The Manila Times. Retrieved from https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/04/04/news/top-stories/govt-launches- rapidpass-for-covid-19-frontliners/709382/

Implementing Agency:

Municipal Government of Bayambang, Pangasinan

Year Implemented:

2017-present

Themes:

Management for Productivity, Quality and Agility, and Digitization & New Technologies

General Description

The Municipality of Bayambang utilizes electronic tagging technology for traffic management.  Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) stickers are installed on registered tricycles to ensure that only registered tricycles can operate according to specific designated routes within the municipality.

Background and Problem

Four major thoroughfares converge in the town center of Bayambang. Provincial buses, FX utility vehicles, jeeps, private cars, and tricycles all pass through the town center from these four access points. While this volume of vehicles is beneficial for the establishments in the area, it can also cause traffic congestion.

Among these vehicles, the tricycle is the most numerous. There are approximately 2,000 to 2,300 registered units in Bayambang, and an indeterminate number of “colorum” units. It is often difficult for traffic enforcers to distinguish between registered and colorum vehicles, and inspections would only contribute to aggravating traffic by causing obstructions.

Solution and Impact

To address traffic congestion, the municipality focused on the regulation of tricycle operations. This involves the installation of RFID stickers on the windshield of registered tricycles, allowing these vehicles to be validated using an RFID reader, either through a handheld unit operated by traffic enforcement personnel or through fixed units installed in strategic locations within the municipality. This e-tagging system combines with the 130 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the area to enable municipal officials to monitor not just the operation of authorized and “colorum” tricycles but also the routes being plied. This ensures that tricycle units do not all congregate in busier areas and that all routes are properly serviced.

The municipal government engaged Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODAs) to discuss the initiative and consult directly with tricycle drivers on the implementation of the initiative. Because the goal is regulation and not disenfranchisement, unregistered tricycle operators were given time and assistance to complete their compliance requirements.

RFID Sticker Installation (Source: Municipality of Bayambang)

RFID Reader being used on an RFID tag (Source: Municipality of Bayambang)

Milestones

Municipal officials estimate that traffic has been reduced significantly by the initiative, as “colorum” tricycles can no longer operate. This also translates to increased income for legitimate tricycle drivers given the reduction of competition.

Bayambang was awarded Best in eGov Systems for Global Competitiveness Award (Municipality Level) at the 2018 digitalcitiesPH Awards which recognizes LGUs for developing world-class ICT systems that are at par with international standards (DICT, 2018).

Sources

Atlas RFID Store. (2021). What is RFID? | The beginner’s guide to RFID systems. Retrieved from https://www.atlasrfidstore.com/rfid-beginners- guide/#:~:text=RFID%20tags%20transmit%20data%20about,to%20the%20antenna%2Freader%20combination.&text=The%20energy%20activates%20the%20chip,back%20toward%20the%20antenna%2Freader.

DICT. (2018). Best eGovernance systems shine at digitalcitiesPH Awards. Retrieved from  https://dict.gov.ph/best-egovernance-systems-shine-at-digitalcitiesph-awards/

Municipality of Bayambang. (2017). Implementation of Bayambang RFID access and e-Tagging report [PDF File]. Retrieved from https://www.bayambang.gov.ph/wp- content/uploads/2017/09/Executive-Order-15-2017-1.pdf

Implementing Agency:

Department of Health

Year Implemented:

23 April 2020-present

Themes:

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

General Description

KIRA (Knowledge Informs Responsible Action / Katuwang na Impormasyon para sa Responsableng Aksyon) Kontra COVID is an automated chatbot launched by the Department of Health (DOH) to help disseminate critical information regarding COVID-19 to the public and facilitate self-checking for the disease via Facebook messenger, Viber, and the Kontra COVID PH webapp. TANOD COVID performs a similar function through SMS, providing even easier and wider accessibility for potential users.

Background and Problem

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Philippines in the first quarter of 2020, the national government had to face a healthcare crisis that was made worse by misinformation and confusion regarding the quarantine protocols being implemented, the options available to citizens for testing and treatment, and even the disease itself—particularly its symptoms and risk factors.

Solution and Impact

After extensive consultations and development, the DOH, through its Health Promotion Bureau and Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service, KIRA KontraCOVID on 30 April 2020. KIRA is an automated chatbot that allows citizens to access important information on COVID-19 via an interactive interface that emphasizes user-friendliness and understandability.

Screenshot of KIRA on different platforms (website, Viber, Messenger) (Source: Department of Health)

Apart from simple information dissemination, KIRA also provides a digital triage function where citizens can report their symptoms and receive advice on what actions need to be taken next. KIRA is able to process this information by asking self-assessment questions that would identify one’s health condition, mild or severe symptoms, date of onset of symptoms, existing vulnerabilities, and level of exposure to COVID. This then allows the program to categorize and tag users as either low risk, a probable case, a suspected mild case, or a suspected moderate to severe case. This assessment, however, is not designed or intended to take the place of a medical consultation or an actual COVID test.

Screenshot of KIRA Triage Results (Source: Department of Health)

Although KIRA is intended to maximize the reach and accessibility of COVID-19 information by its availability on popular online platforms such as Facebook and Viber, it is limited by its dependence on the internet connectivity of its users. As a contingency for this, the DOH also launched TANOD COVID, an SMS-based self-reporting system accessible through the country’s major telecommunications services.

Screenshot of TANOD COVID Reporting via text message (Source: Department of Health)

Reports coming in from KIRA and TANOD COVID are compiled in the Kontra COVID PH database, which can then be accessed by local government units (LGUs), processed, and validated. The compiled cases can be filtered according to the severity of symptoms, the status of verification, and the date received.

PH Kontra COVI D Database Process Flow (Source: Department of Health)

Screenshot of PH Kontra COVID Dashboard for LGUs (Source: Department of Health)

Screenshot of PH Kontra COVID LGU Verification Process (Source: Department of Health)

Milestones

As of December 16, 2021, KIRA has 1.2 million total subscribers on Facebook Messenger and Viber. It has processed over 32 million bot interactions, addressed 132,424 inquiries sent by users, and facilitated 163,913 self-assessments.

KIRA has since been enhanced to deliver updates on registration for vaccines, vaccination cards/certificates, and access to vaccines across different LGUs. It also has emphasized fighting misinformation regarding vaccine indications and contraindications, their safety for breastfeeding mothers, and other critical information that needs to be corrected or clarified to the public. 

Source
Department of Health. (2020, April 23). Kontra Covid Bot. https://doh.gov.ph/covid-19/chatbot

Implementing Agency:

City Government of Iloilo

Year Implemented:

March 2020-present

Themes:

Management for Productivity, Quality, and Agility, and Perspectives on Productivity, Governance, and Development

General Description

The City Government of Iloilo initiated localized mass testing towards the end of March 2020 after the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) accredited the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao District to conduct COVID-19 testing.

Background and Problem

A critical step towards mitigating the spread of COVID-19 is using disease surveillance to monitor its effects on a population (Pan American Health Organization, 2020) (Nature, 2020) (Health Management, 2020). An important aspect of disease surveillance is mass testing, which can only be done by fully equipped and capacitated laboratories. This, however, was lacking in the Philippines during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Solution and Impact

The City Government of Iloilo, led by Mayor Jerry Treñas, were early advocates for mass testing as a means of managing the pandemic (ANC, 2020). Only weeks after large sections of the country were put into lockdown, the City Government sought accreditation for the Western Visayas Medical Center Laboratory to be able to conduct reliable and efficient testing for the virus. Early identification of positive cases helps in the containment of the virus, especially for asymptomatic cases that may unknowingly be contagious, and is one of the best proactive measures that the government can take while vaccines are still being developed..

To supply the Laboratory with the necessary equipment, the Iloilo City Government partnered with business groups, the Department of Health (DOH), and the University of the Philippines – Visayas to obtain reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test kits (ANC, 2020) (Rappler, 2020), personal protective equipment (PPE) suits, a PCR machine (UP Visayas, 2020), an RNA extraction machine, viral nucleic acid kits, and an IMI ventilator set (Daily Guardian, 2020).

Efforts were also made to further expand the city’s testing capacity. The Alternating Learning System (ALS) building in Barangay San Pedro, Molo was converted into a temporary molecular laboratory in September 2020, while the Uswag Molecular Laboratory was established 14 November 2020. The latter also handles the testing of specimens from Iloilo Province.

Milestones

In recognition of its initiatives, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) cites Iloilo City for its mass testing efforts. LCP mentions that several policymakers and leaders from the public and private sectors in the country recognize that mass testing is key to reopening the economy while a vaccine is being formulated (Philippine Information Agency, 2020).

They also presented their experiences in mobilizing early localized mass testing during webinars with LCP and CITYNET, a regional network of local authorities for the management of human settlement in the Asia-Pacific region (CITYNET, 2021).

Photos

Uswag Molecular Laboratory Building and Facilities 

(Source: Mayor Jerry Treñas Facebook Page)

Sources

ANC. (2020, April 3). How this mayor turned Iloilo into a model city with its ‘all action’ approach 

to fight COVID-19. https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/04/03/20/in-

iloilo-city-frontliners-are-first-priority

CITYNET. (2021, February 22). Nepal NC hosts an international webinar on DRRM and lessons 

from COVID-19. https://citynet-ap.org/nepal-nc-hosts-an-international-webinar-

on-drrm-and-lessons-from-covid-19/

Daily Guardian. (2020, October 7). New lab to boost COVID testing in Iloilo City. 

New lab to boost COVID testing in Iloilo City

Health Management Org. (2020, March 27). Where Are the Most Effective Anti-COVID-19 

Strategies?. https://healthmanagement.org/c/hospital/news/where-are-the-most-

effective-anti-covid-19-strategies

Nature. (2020, April 27). Whose coronavirus strategy worked best? Scientists hunt most effective 

policies. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01248-1

Pan American Health Organization. (2020, November 11). PAHO outlines best practices to control

COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.paho.org/en/news/11-11-2020-paho-outlines-

best-practices-control-covid-19-pandemic

Philippine Information Agency. (2020, May 13). LCP cites Iloilo City for mass testing efforts. 

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1041710

PICAO. (2020, November 16). Uswag Molecular Laboratory. Official Website of the Provincial 

Government of Iloilo City. https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1041710

Rappler. (2020, July 1). How Iloilo City became ‘Wakanda’ of the Philippines. 

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/how-iloilo-city-became-wakanda-of-philippines

University of the Philippines Visayas. (2020, March 17). UPV alumni initiates meeting to allow 

COVID-19 testing in Iloilo soon. https://www.upv.edu.ph/index.php/news/upv-

alumni-initiates-meeting-to-allow-covid-19-testing-in-iloilo-soon

Implementing Agency:

City Government of Valenzuela

Year Implemented:

18 August 2020 – present

Themes:

Management for Productivity, Quality, and Agility, and Perspectives on Productivity, Governance, and Development

General Description

On August 18, 2020, the City Government of Valenzuela established a Mega Contact Tracing Center to strengthen its capacity to identify, monitor, and isolate potential COVID-positive cases in their jurisdiction.

Background and Problem

The World Health Organization (WHO) defined contact tracing as the process of identifying, assessing, and managing people who have been exposed to known infected individuals, allowing authorities to manage potential virus transmission through rapid identification, isolation, and clinical care of cases (World Health Organization, 2020). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, public health departments have used contact tracing for decades to slow or stop the spread of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

In April 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) issued Resolution 25, assigning the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in coordination with local government units (LGUs), to lead the contact-tracing efforts of the government to address the rapidly spread of COVID-19. As the main actors on the ground, LGUs serve as the implementers of these efforts.

However, the Philippines was tagged by the WHO in May 2020 for having inefficient and ineffective contact tracing, hampering any possibility of mitigating the spread of COVID-19. As of 30 July 2020, only 1% out of the nearly 600 LGUs in the country have a relatively good system of contact tracing, with LGUs increasing the number of contact tracing staff for the purpose of substantial compliance rather than ensuring the proper establishment of the system (Inquirer, 2020).

Solution and Impact

The Mega Contact Tracing Center, operated by the Valenzuela City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU), is a call center and coordination hub staffed by a team of 100 data encoders and disease surveillance personnel. It implements a contactless approach, extracting and collecting the necessary information—local travel history, number of household members, etc.—from target individuals via phone calls and emails.

The Center also has a separate team for field work composed of swab testers, registered nurses, and doctors, who work closely with Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) to assess and monitor identified COVID-positive cases and, when necessary, extract and endorse them for hospitalization.

Milestones

The Valenzuela City Health Office (CHO) has trained the Mega Contact Tracing Center staff in proper disease surveillance, handling data privacy, and the use of the ValTrace App, a contact tracing platform launched by the Valenzuela LGU that utilizes QR codes and location history to establish potential points of contact and exposure for persons under investigation.

Photos

Launch of the Valenzuela City Mega Contact Tracing Center on 18 August 2020 (Source: City Government of Valenzuela)

Valenzuela City Mega Contact Tracing Center (Source: City Government of Valenzuela)

Sources

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Training and Workforce Development for

COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing. 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/php/contact-tracing-CDC-role-and-

approach.pdf

CMFR. (2020, December 24). Another LGU best practice: Inquirer reports Valenzuela’s contact 

tracing. Manilanews.net. https://www.manilanews.net/news/267339860/another-lgu-best-

practice-inquirer-reports-valenzuelas-contact-tracing

Gonzales, C. (2020, July 30). Less than 1% of 600 LGUs have ‘relatively good’ contact tracing 

system — Magalong. Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1314330/less-than-1-of-600-lgus-

have-relatively-good-contact-tracing-system-magalong

Madarang, C.R.S. (2020, August 12). The DOH has no contact tracing team. Here’s why. 

Interaksyon. https://interaksyon.philstar.com/politics-issues/2020/08/12/174849/the-doh-has-no-

contact-tracing-team-heres-why/

Porciuncula, A.R. (2020, October 20). DILG Reinforces Valenzuela City’s COVID-19 Response 

with Additional Contact Tracers. Official Website of the City Government of Valenzuela. 

https://www.valenzuela.gov.ph/article/news/13611

Porciuncula, A.R. (2020, October 6). Valenzuela City Opens 24/7 Mega Contact Tracing Center. 

Official Website of the City Government of Valenzuela. 

https://www.valenzuela.gov.ph/article/news/13522

World Health Organization. (2020, July 28). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Contact tracing. 

https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-contact-tracing

Implementing Agency:

City Government of Pasig

Year Implemented:

9 October 2020-present

Themes:

Management for Productivity, Quality, and Agility, Digitization & New Technologies, and Perspectives on Productivity, Governance, and Development

General Description

The City Government of Pasig implemented an integrated approach to the contact tracing of COVID-positive cases, utilizing QR codes and GPS-based technology, through the Pasig City Health Monitoring System and Pasig Pass.

Background and Problem

Contact tracing is a necessary public health strategy to identify and suppress the potential spread of any infectious disease (Mayo Clinic, 2020). It is, however, labor- and time-intensive, and thus it is a struggle for public officials tasked with contact tracing to keep up with the rate of infection of a highly contagious disease such as COVID-19, especially given any possible issues with the integrity of the available data and the sheer volume of information and potential points of contact that need to be addressed.

Solution and Impact

To improve its contact tracing capacity, the Pasig City Government decided to integrate Pasig City Health Monitor, which is its COVID-19 case management system, with Pasig Pass, which provides proximity tracing and exposure notifications.

The Pasig City Health Monitor works by streamlining the collection and management of data into a single database that tracks confirmed COVID-19 cases, probable and suspected cases, as well as any possible close contacts. This database processes and stores patient information, demographics, mobility patterns, and hot spots with high rates of positivity. Pasig Pass requires that all establishments collect from their patrons a unique QR code generated via registration. This simplifies the process of identifying where individuals are at any given time, and who might be in the same location within the same timeframe.

The two systems can thus work together by compiling through the Health Monitor the locations an individual has visited as tracked through the Pasig Pass, identifying in the process anyone who could have been potentially exposed.

Milestones 

While there have been challenges in integrating the city’s efforts with the national contact tracing system implemented by the Department of Health, the Pasig City Health Monitor has managed to record over 9,000 cumulative confirmed cases. 

In recognition of the City Government’s initiative, Plaques of Appreciation were awarded to both Mayor Vico Sotto and the City of Pasig during the COVID-19 Response Service Awards. (Manila Bulletin, 2020)

Photos

Pasig City Health Monitor System (Source: Pasig City Assistant City Health Officer Stuart Santos’ Presentation on the Pasig City Health Monitoring and Tracking System)

Pasig Pass Dashboard (left) and QR Code (right) 

(Source: Pasig City Assistant City Health Officer Stuart Santos’ Presentation on the Pasig City Health Monitoring and Tracking System)

Sources

Manila Bulletin. (2020, October 23). Pasig City receives recognition for COVID-19 response. 

Pasig City receives recognition for COVID-19 response

Mayo Clinic. (2020, April 24). What is contact tracing, and why is it important in fight against 

COVID-19?. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-is-contact-tracing-and-why-is-

it-important-in-fight-against-covid-19/