Provincial Board to go paperless

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board aims to save at least P1 million a year on paper and ink as it transitions to “paperless” sessions, PB Secretary Pulchra Acevedo said yesterday. 

Acevedo said ordinances and resolutions are now being codified so that the board can start working only with computers. She said they are targeting to implement the paperless system before the year ends. 

“We will implement it so part of the house rules will be amended to incorporate procedure on paperless,” she said.

This was discussed during the recent meeting of newly-elected officials.

Instead of distributing hard copies of the agenda and minutes to Board Members, electronic versions will be sent through email or flash drive. For records purposes, a hard copy would still be retained.

Acevedo said the Board has used up volumes of bond paper in reproducing copies of the agenda and minutes alone.

The incoming 14th Sangguniang Panlalawigan will have 17 members, including the new elected board members in the 7th Legislative District.

They will be able to access proposed resolutions and ordinances from a database or an archive.

Acevedo said one board member was apprehensive of the system because the official is not tech savvy, but everyone has to adapt to the digital age.

“This is not an option for them not to observe,” she said.

“I strongly believe that as a premiere province, we should level up and we should be advanced in our procedure,” she added.

Once the new system is in place, the province will be among the local government units in the country to implement a paperless office and presentation during the PB sessions. 

Meanwhile, as far as co-sponsoring a resolution is concerned, Acevedo said it has been agreed that the rules of procedure should be followed.

She explained that if the author of the proposed legislation or committee report is absent on the day of the session, the committee’s vice chair or any of the member should co-sponsor.

Anyone can co-sponsor a resolution or ordinance but the same should be done before the session and with prior permission of the principal author. (FREEMAN)