LGUs urged: Update websites

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board has urged local government units to set up and update their respective websites.

The PB approved the resolution sponsored by Board Member Victoria Corominas-Toribio amid an impending suspension against five municipal officials of Ronda for their failure to post bid notices on the government website in 2012.

 Corominas-Toribio said the internet has been a very valuable source of information and that social media has been reaching millions of internet users and spreading information instantly.

“Such social phenomenon should be taken advantage of by the government especially by LGUs so they can easily or instantly deliver information to the public relaying their projects and how the public can avail them,” said Corominas-Toribio.

 She added that LGU websites must be updated regularly to maintain the accuracy of the information they provided to their constituents and to the general public.

 The Integrated Government Philippines (iGovPhil) Project provides a web hosting service to government entities, including government agencies, financial institutions, government-owned and -controlled corporations, and inter-agency collaborations, programs, and projects. This allows government websites to be housed under one roof.

 Administrative Order no. 39 series of 2013 (AO 39), issued by then president Benigno Aquino III on 12 July 2013, mandates all line agencies to transfer their internet hosting requirements to the Government Web Hosting Service (GWHS) for more efficient use of technology and greater protection against hacking and cyber attacks.

LGUs and other autonomous bodies of government are exempted from the order but they are encouraged to avail of the web hosting service.

 Republic Act 9184 otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003 requires the posting of all the government procurement notices in the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (Philgeps), the official website for government projects subject for bidding, which is one of the Commission on Audit (COA) requirements.

 The Office of the Ombudsman ordered last week the suspension of five Ronda town officials for one month and a day without pay for their failure to post bid notices on Philgeps.

“Posting in the website is mandated for all government procurement in consonance with the principles of transparency and competitiveness,” read the decision.

 The suspended officials are Municipal Engineer Oscar Pilapil, Municipal Budget Officer Thelma Landiza, Municipal Assistant Treasurer Brigida Cabaron, and Frauline Requilme and Evelina Tan who composed the municipality’s Bids and Awards Committee. (FREEMAN)