ELECTRONIC LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM. The Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP) launches its Paperless and Electronic Legislative Information System as part of the events for its 1st Summit on Smart LGU, in Iloilo City on Wednesday (Aug 14, 2024). The summit, which ended Thursday, focused on their direction of becoming smart LGUs. (Photo courtesy of VM Arvin Losaria)
ILOILO CITY – The Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP) called on the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and other network providers to improve connectivity as they gear toward becoming "smart" local government units (LGUs).
"We have prepared a roadmap of where to begin towards the attainment of our deep desire and goals of the smart LGU and cities that we aspire as policymakers, presiding officers, and members of the council and even the executive departments," Lambunao Vice Mayor Arvin Losaria, the VMLP national vice chair, said in an interview on Thursday.
He cited the importance of improving connectivity, especially because the DICT program for Internet connection at the grassroots has yet to be fully implemented.
The push for smart LGUs was the focus of the VMLP 1st Summit on Smart LGUs held in Iloilo City on Aug. 13-15, gathering more than 600 participants composed of vice mayors, councilors, and Sangguniang bayan at lungsod secretaries from across the country.
Losaria said challenges were discussed during the summit and that they realized much needs to be done, especially in improving connectivity.
He added that there is more to becoming a smart LGU than just technology. There are also concepts on soil management, environmental protection, and water sources.
In the meantime, he said, the preparation of the smart LGU roadmap would be on a modular basis.
"It is going to be a continuing education for our presiding officers and members of the council, among others. We do it on a modular basis. This is data, evidence, and problem-based," Losaria said.
Among the highlights of the summit was the launch of the Paperless and Electronic Legislative Information System, which aims to centralize access to worthy legislative outputs and enactments through website and application.
In a media conference on Wednesday, VMLP national president Anthony G. Domalanta said the system contains all ordinances and resolutions dating back to the time the LGU was established. (PNA)
