142 barangays back ICT program in QC

The 142 barangays of Quezon City has expressed their full support to the Information Communication Technology (ICT) program being pursued by the city government under the stewardship of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

In its year-end national assembly held at the Encelada Resort, Puerto Gallera, the Liga ng Barangay agreed to set up internet connections at barangay halls in compliance with the E-Commerce Law.

Councilor Xyrus Lanot, Quezon City Liga president announced that beginning January 2006, all the 142 barangay halls in Quezon City will have internet connection to complement the paperless transaction program of the administration.

"The advent of technology can reduce the cost of doing business and improve the business climate in the barangays and could further facilitate the development of more services to the constituents through information provision", Lanot added.

Nathan Zulueta, Quezon City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation (QCCCIF) president, said connectivity is the first component of the QC Barangay ICT program. It involves assigning e-mail addresses to all the barangay captains and workers.

"The whole city will be transformed into an information society capable of receiving and sending information through the electronic mail," Zulueta said.

The second phase is the establishment of linkages to the Quezon City Business Registry Databank.

The third and last phase is the conversion of barangay halls into a small business center and with an e-library capable of bringing education and developmental information to constituents through internet access.

Zulueta, who created the QC Business Registry Databank, showed barangay heads how the system further improves the business-friendly climate in the city.