eGovPH ‘Click, Connect, Celebrate!’
It’s a good thing we have a tech savyy President!” said Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. at “Click, Connect, Celebrate,” a thanksgiving event to honor the remarkable achievements of e.GOV.PH, at the Foro de InTramuros in Manila.
Almirol, a self-made tech magnate before joining the government, founded Multisys Technologies, a software company worth billions, and was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 2021 for science, engineering and technology.
The Philippines is one of only 12 countries recognized by UN for its notable progress in digital government from 2022 to 2024.
As of this month, there have been 300 million transactions undertaken via eGovPH. “Malaking bawas sa pila or red tape,” Almirol said.
The Philippines, according to Almirol, “jumped from ‘High’ to ‘Very High’ in the E-Government Development Index (EGDI), climbing more than 15 places in the EGDI ranking. It moved from ‘High’ to ‘Very High’ in the Online Service Index (OSI) with an over 15-percent increase.
Almirol thanked the President and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos for their support of eGov, remarking how savvy the President is in information technology. When I asked LAM to comment on the President’s being “techie,” she smiled, “Very!”
Among those proudly present at the thanksgiving were Almirol’s family and Manny V. Pangilian, chairman of the MVP Group of Companies. Pangilinan, the chairman of PLDT, and Almirol have had a significant professional partnership that combined Pangilinan’s leadership in telecommunications with Almirol’s expertise in software development, driving digital transformation and comprehensive IT services in the Philippines.
The eGovPH App was initially launched in 2024 and has since made major digital enhancements in the ease and accessibility of doing government transactions.
There are now over 17 million eGov users, though a fraction still of the 115-million population of the Philippines. There are over 88 million Digital National IDs in the eGovPH app for registered Filipinos, another first in the Philippine government, allowing citizens to access government services in a single platform. This will simplify the way people interact with the government even in the comfort of their homes.
According to Almirol, there have already been over 550 million transactions through the app.
He said proudly that if one is in the system, it is possible to get a driver’s license “in 10 minutes!”
Motorists will soon be able to view and settle their traffic violations through the eGovPH super app as the Department of Information and Communications Technology moves to integrate the no-contact apprehension policy.
Being able to obtain government services online definitely is a boon and a blessing to Filipinos wo don’t have to queue up for government services under the hot sun or blinding rain. It limits the need for so-called “fixers” to speed up the process. It minimizes vehicular traffic — and it minimizes exposure to communicable diseases from being in crowded places.
I am no techie but I thank God for techies who make doing business with government as easy as pressing the like button on Instagram and Facebook.
Now, the singles are asking me, “Does the eGov app also include online dating?”
You may e-mail me at [email protected]. Follow me on Instagram @joanneraeramirez.
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