Leni Robredo launches MyNaga app for faster city response

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Leni Robredo has formally launched the MyNaga app, a digital platform designed to bring government services closer to residents and promote transparency and accountability in city hall.

In a Facebook post on August 21, Robredo said the idea for the app was born shortly after she won the mayoralty elections.

According to Robredo, Arch Czarina of Easybus PH, approached her and asked how the company could contribute to Naga’s development.

"I told Arch Czarina of my dream to have an app for Naga residents that will not only bring government closer to the people but will also serve as a transparency mechanism that will make government more accountable," Robredo said.

Within a month, the Easybus PH team — composed of young developers, many of them graduates of the Philippine Science High School Bicol Campus — was able to produce a working draft.

A preview was shown during Robredo’s inauguration on June 30 and after revisions, the app was launched on August 18, together with the city’s Citizens Charter 2.0.

Robredo expressed her gratitude to the developers, saying that some of them were still in college.

“Beyond grateful to Easybus PH and so proud of the MyNaga team,” she said.

Since its launch, however, the mayor said the app has already received a surge of requests, complaints and concerns from residents.

"Kan nakaaging duwang aldaw, gulping nag laog sa My Naga app nin mga request, tuyaw saka mga reklamo. Maogma po kita na nagkaigwa kmi sa City Hall nin kaskas asin direktang paagi para maaraman an mga problema digdi sa satong Ciudad," she wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday, August 24.

(In the past two days, a flood of requests, suggestions and complaints came into the MyNaga app. We are glad that city hall now has a quick and direct way to know the problems in our city.)

Robredo admitted that limited manpower and resources may cause delays in addressing each request, but assured residents that all concerns would be attended to within the week.

"Mahagad po kaming dikit na pasensya na baka po harahalawig an response time bago masimbagan an mga requests. Pero, tugà ta po na dai malampas sa sarong semana ini," she added.

(We ask for your understanding if response times may take longer before requests are addressed. However, we promise that these will not go beyond one week.)

To manage the influx, the city government will roll out a queuing system starting Tuesday, August 26, allowing users to track their request’s position in line and monitor progress.

Robredo also said many of the issues raised involve the Metropolitan Naga Water District and the Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative.

She plans to invite both agencies to join the MyNaga app team to ensure faster responses.

“Mabalos po,” Robredo said, thanking Nagueños for trusting the new platform.