Yu calls for digitized government docs processing

CEBU, Philippines - An economic consultant pointed out the need for "cumbersome" government processes and securing permits and licenses to be digitized particularly in the local government level.

Joel Mari Yu, Cebu City government’s business and economic consultant, said the Philippines in general is "very backward" in the area of making government processes and securing government permits through the digital platform.

"There is almost nothing you can obtain in the Philippines through online, whether it's a passport, driver's license or business permit" Yu said in a press conference yesterday on the upcoming 2nd Slingshot Cebu, a meeting conference among startups, innovators and entrepreneurs.

He cited, for instance, the Cedula which up to this time should still be obtained physically at the city or barangay hall.

Yu underscored the need for securing government permits to be made online to make it convenient for constituents amid the rise in digital transformation in various sectors in the society.

He described government processes to be usually tedious, stupid, time consuming, cumbersome and irrational. 

He further said there is no need to streamline and digitize government processes.

"It is not just about streamlining the processes but being to do it remotely without having to go to government offices," the economic consultant said.

"The convenience of the end-user is paramount," he said.

"This is the utopia we're trying to achieve," he stressed.

While the private sector has started digitizing services particularly the banking sector with the convenience of online banking, he said the government sector has to embrace technology to improve its services and convenience of the public.

"The ultimate customer convenience is remote," he said.

Meanwhile the Department of Trade and Industry is organizing the 2nd Slingshot event on Aug. 8-9 at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu to gather players in the startup community and give them an avenue to exchange ideas.

The event also aims to enable startups you be up-to-date on recent technological changes that affect the business environment, determine policy and seek funding support from investors who are ready to embrace innovative ideas.

The two-day event will have talks by influential keynote speakers, breakout tracks, sessions with experts on digital innovation, startups exhibition and fellowship networking.

At least 250 participants are expected to join the conference composed og tech startups and founders, entrepreneurs, government, academe, business chambers and other members of the innovation ecosystem.

It was last year when DTI launched the first Slingshot in Cebu to signal its entry into the Cebu startup sector. (FREEMAN)