PASIG CITY — Digital transformation is a vital tool to cutting red tape and corruption, improving public service, and saving lives during disasters, but many local governments are still in the dark on how to do it the right way. This was the challenge being addressed by the forum on “Reimagining Local Governance: Digital Transformation for Local Development” held on February 11 at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) by the Center for Research and Communication’s Institute for Local Development (CRC-ILD) and finance super app GCash. 

The forum gathered over 160 local government representatives, development practitioners, and innovation advocates to share practical applications of technology to improve local governance in two areas: improving efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness in local governance, and improving disaster risk reduction and response. 

Speakers from GCash, Khan Academy Philippines, and the Quezon City local government showcased initiatives actively addressing bureaucratic red tape, and improving and expanding social services such as education, while the Office of Civil Defense, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, UK-based philanthropy Unconnected.org and Japan-based AI company Spectee presented their innovative programs supporting resilience building, disaster management and response, and communications especially for the “last mile” – the isolated and low-income communities who remain difficult to reach.

GCash Vice President and Head of Public Sector Ms. Cleo Celeste Santos discussed how GCash has worked with many LGUs across the country to improve the "ease of doing business" by enabling seamless digital transactions, reducing opportunities for corruption and processing time. Other initiatives like Paleng-QR Ph Plus for market vendors, digital fare payments for tricycles, and direct payments for water districts and local hospitals are also now available. However, policy challenges remain as laws and regulations lag behind the real-time use at scale of innovative digital tools like e-wallets. 

Quezon City’s presentation was an eye-opener for the almost 40 LGUs present during the forum, as City Administrator Michael Alimurung discussed how the city moved from zero online services in 2019 to 34 online modules offering 241 services today, serving 3.5 million registered accounts and 1.6 million QC ID holders, with significant benefits for both city hall operations and for citizens. Khan Academy Philippines presented the same rapid scale they achieved in improving outcomes for both students and teachers in public schools, starting with only 34 schools in 2023 and now to over 2,500 schools nationwide in partnership with LGUs and the private sector using AI and digital connectivity.

Panel Discussion on Digital Transformation for Efficiency, Transparency and Effective Local Governance: Quezon City Administrator Michael Alimurung (far right) discusses the journey of Quezon City to develop an online system that serves the needs of their more than three million citizens. (L-R: Manny Caintic, former acting DICT secretary and forum moderator, Ms. Cleo Celeste Santos of GCash, and Ms. Denise Fabella of Khan Academy Philippines).

The second panel focused on disaster preparedness and response, emphasizing how digital tools are now essential for modern disaster risk reduction and management. Mr. Junie B. Castillo, spokesperson for the Office of Civil Defense discussed how the agency has moved to digital modeling to anticipate risks and identify where, when, and how intense a hazard will be. They then prioritize action for exposed communities and bridging digital gaps to ensure early warnings for isolated populations. Addressing this "last mile" connectivity gap, Mr. Benj Gerard "Jigs" Sevilla of unconnected.org, a global charity, discussed the use of satellite technology like Starlink to provide high-speed internet to isolated areas. This ensures evacuation centers and schools remain connected for relief distribution and emergency communication.

Ms. Veronica Gabaldon, Executive Director of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), highlighted the critical role of communications for effective coordination especially in managing the first 48 hours of a disaster response, with Mr. Satoshi Negoro of Spectee, a Japanese AI company, presenting their technology that scans social media platforms to validate "crowdsourced" information in real-time, providing LGUs with a visual map of ongoing floods, fires, or landslides, often providing situational awareness before official reports are compiled. 

Economist Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas, CRC Founder, delivered the closing message, summing up the core challenge and opportunity for LGUs. He called on smaller but contiguous LGUs to collaborate to achieve economies of scale in setting up digital infrastructure, and to continue to engage with the private sector. He also spoke of the vital role that LGUs play in accelerating national economic development to avoid the “middle income trap.” According to Villegas, a “concerted, whole-of-society effort led at the grassroots by local governments is essential in rapidly growing the economy, and building a more resilient Philippines.”#

Dr. Bernardo Villegas, founder of the Center for Research and Communication, encourages contiguous LGUs to collaborate and work together to create economies of scale in setting up digital transformation solutions in local governance.

Press release from CRC-ILD & GCash.