According to Maribel Buenaobra, Managing Program Officer of the Foundation, they initially surveyed local government units who have done work on e-Government, funded several consultative meetings with ICT advocates and local chief executives on the constraints of local e-government, and eventually formed the e-Government Technical Working Group in partnership with local government units and leagues, who are receptive to e-Governance, and civil society groups.  They also conducted a series of regional workshops discussing constraints, solutions, and best practices; promoting e-Governance and replicating the programs.

As a result of sowing the seeds of e-Governance, the Foundation launched last week an e-Governance Online website at the Century Park Sheraton Hotel.  With the website, Asia Foundation aims to remove constraints to e-Governance at the local level especially policies and regulations that prevent local governments from adopting new systems and procedures; increase access to information, guidance and support for local officials; and provide a forum for champions of local e-Governance to share best practices.  Ky Johnson, Assistant Representative of the Foundation in his welcome remarks stated that the website was an important step in promoting transparency and accountability at the local level and effecting reforms in local governance.

The website is at http://www.egov-lgu.ph.  The site contains a list of the member leagues of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), case reports of successful e-Governance applications of different local government units, graphics illustrating the concepts and discussions of the e-Governance projects, the technology used as applied to a particular function, and the contact details of people who worked on the projects.  One of the cases featured in the website is the virtual and paperless sessions of the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) of Dagupan.  I won’t go into the details on how they do these because it’s better to read their story from the site.

The website is really a resource-base for information relevant to local government units with links to relevant laws and a couple of downloadables like how to set up an ICT unit.  The site also has an advanced search function that is user-friendly and has well-defined parameters.  One can either search by keyword, by function, by type of LGU, and by type of service rendered.  Just a suggestion, though, the search function can be on a separate page/tab/link so that a visitor can see the service at once as it currently shares a page with Good Practices hidden from the home page.

Crimson Logic developed the website using open source and a content management software. The National Computer Center is hosting the site to ensure that the site will be low-maintenance.  The challenge, however, is for the ULAP to update the website.

Sustainability is also a challenge as the terms of the local government officials end and successors will try to undo the good things done by their predecessors.  Maribel said that the Foundation is hopeful that the systemic changes that are already in place shall have been institutionalized by then and that the people doing the ground work will still be there setting up management information systems, setting up a planning unit which some LGUs go not have, and using technology to promote good governance.

Personally, going over the website and reading about how local government units in the provinces are making a difference using ICT to improve the quality of life of their residents is heartwarming and gave me an assurance that amidst the turmoil in the capital and controversies hounding the national government, the local government units hold the promise of making this country great.

But this is not the end for e-Governance as the British Embassy is looking at building a portal for e-Governance and other development agencies eyeing to specialize on certain aspects of e-Governance.

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From my Inbox: Last 13-14 October, the first of a series of exhibits for Innovations Expo 2005 was held at Zambales National High School in Iba, Zambales.  As the expo tours Central Luzon on October 18-19 at Cabanatuan East Central High School, on November 8-9 at the Olongapo Convention Center, and   on December 8-9 at Hiyas Convention Center in Malolos City, visitors will be able to see technology exhibits, inventions, researches, and video documentaries.  DOST, CICT, and CHED are supporting the event organized by ConvergeX Asia Expositions Management.  For details, visit their website at convergexasia.com

(For feedback, comments, suggestions email me at openingpagemb@yahoo.com)