#DigitalBangsamoro center launched in Lanao Sur

PIAGAPO, Lanao del Sur, Philippines — The first digital center in the Bangsamoro region, which features an interactive call center and a one-stop shop web portal for public services, has been opened in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.

Officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) forged a partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to implement a Localizing e-Governance for Accelerated Provision of Services or LeAPS program.

A flagship program of the Ministry of Local Government (MILG), it aims to simplify business processes as well as improve the quality and speed of public services.

“This marks a significant milestone, a historic event for the whole BARMM. Piagapo is grateful to be the first to be given this program as we have been longing to have a program for the digitalization of public services. Hopefully, this can be rolled out in other municipalities and cities soon,” Piagapo Mayor Ali Sumandar said.

The LeAPS Program will also be pilot-tested in Butig town.

As an initial offering, the #DigitalBangsamoro center will process business permit applications and requests for birth certificates.

In his message, UNDP Philippines resident representative Selva Ramachandran said the launch of the digital center in Piagapo is “only the beginning of our journey.”

“We are here to turn the vision of #DigitalBangsamoro into reality. Here in Mindanao, digitalization plays a particularly significant role in the provision of critical public services to make sure that we leave no one behind,” Ramachandran said.