By melvin g. CALIMAG
The road to modernization is filled with obstacles and reprobations, but there’s no other way to traverse the future except through it.
This was admonished to government agencies who attended a recent roundtable discussion on e-government organized by GeoSpatial Solutions Inc. (GSI), a local IT firm specializing on e-government projects, in cooperation with tech giant IBM.
GSI chief executive Efren Ricalde said during his presentation that government agencies will surely encounter many problems as they undertake their computerization projects but it is important that they carry on and finish the job.
"It is usually the beginning that is the most important part of the work," Ricalde said, echoing the words of the Greek philosopher Plato. "The government must never lose hope that eventually it can accomplish the necessary egovernment infrastructure for the country."
GSI has undertaken a number of e-government projects such as the Licensure Examination Registration and Information System of the Professional Regulations Commission, the Geographical Information System of the Pasay City government, and Real Estate Management System of the Philippine Port Authority.
It recently bagged the contract to build the eNTC Phase 1 Project, a
R15million initiative under the National Telecommunications Commission to include the development of the NTC Web Portal, computerization of the Radio Operator Walk-In Examination System, the establishment of a records management workflow, conversion of critical documents into digital format, and preparation of detailed design specifications for the NTC’s information systems framework.
GSI, the first ISO certified geomatics company in the Philippines, was also recognized recently by IBM as its independent software vendor (ISV) of the year.
In spite of various limitations, Ricalde said there is still hope for the government to put a digital infrastructure in place.
"An essential dimension of successful transformation is the creation of an atmosphere that supports progress towards defined goals. When an agency’s vision provide a new sense of direction, cultural issues will determine whether the vision is embraced or rejected by the organization."
He pointed out the problem on collaboration among government agencies or departments which often act individually. "The failure to collaborate properly not only translates to additional costs but also to growing dissatisfaction in the citizens who access their services."
Ricalde said that since government involves multiple organizations, a more collaborative decisionmaking process is needed because the likelihood is greater that a process change in one department will trigger the need for change in others.
"(The government must take) immediate and precise action to restructure, if not completely overhaul the existing system of governance in the country. Challenges need to be addressed, transformations need to undertaken. With urgency and without complacency."
