Parañaque Rep. Brian Yamsuan is urging local government units to speed up the digitalization of their beneficiary databases to ensure faster and more accurate delivery of government aid during fuel price-driven crises.
Yamsuan issued the call as the House of Representatives is expected to approve on third and final reading House Bill No. 9305, or the proposed Komprehensibong Alalay sa Livelihood, Inflation, Negosyo at Goods Assistance program, before Congress adjourns session this week.
The Kalinga bill seeks to establish a whole-of-government emergency response system for future fuel price shocks. It includes provisions for cash transfers, food assistance and other forms of support for vulnerable households and sectors affected by oil price surges.
Yamsuan said LGUs will play a crucial role in identifying, validating and assisting in the distribution of aid to qualified beneficiaries. He said modernized local databases would help prevent confusion, duplication of names and delays in releasing government support.
“Under the bill introduced by our Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, LGUs play a key role in identifying and validating the list of beneficiaries of government aid, as well as in assisting in its distribution. With or without the Kalinga bill, modernizing LGU databases through digitalization will prevent confusion, duplication of names, and speed up the delivery of assistance to our beleaguered countrymen during times of fuel price-induced crises,” Yamsuan said.
“Kahit digitalized na sa level ng national government, kung ang mga LGUs naman ay napag-iwanan, hindi pa rin lubusang madarama ng ating mga kababayan ang impact ng mabilis at maayos na serbisyo na dala ng makabagong teknolohiya,” he added.
Yamsuan, a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and one of the principal authors of the Kalinga bill, said local governments should be ready to deliver assistance quickly whenever another crisis hits.
The lawmaker said LGUs have funding support for digitalization initiatives through the Local Government Support Fund, which reached a record P57.88 billion under this year’s national budget.
He said a large portion of the fund comes from the P37.49-billion financial assistance to LGUs, which local chief executives may tap for projects that improve public service delivery, including information and communications technology systems.
Yamsuan said digitalizing LGU processes would not only speed up the release of aid and services but also improve transparency and accountability at the local level.
He added that digital systems can make applications for government programs more convenient while helping eliminate the “palakasan” or “padrino” system in accessing public assistance.
Under Local Budget Circular No. 169 of the Department of Budget and Management, projects covered by the financial assistance to LGUs include ICT systems and infrastructure development, integrated business permit and licensing systems, digital payment systems for collections and disbursements, and the purchase and installation of CCTV surveillance systems.
“Making this crucial transformation a priority of LGUs will ensure that we don’t fall behind other countries that have embraced digitalization,” Yamsuan said.