Ginatilan gets database system for disaster response, records

CEBU, Philippines —  The Municipality of Ginatilan, Cebu has received a Smart Community Barangay e-System and Tools (BeST) for disaster response, record keeping and other government processes.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)- 7 Provincial Science and Technology Office Cebu and Central Visayas Information Sharing Network Foundation, Inc. (CVisNET) Foundation turned over the equipment through Grants-In-Aid (GIA) project.

Ginatilan Mayor Roy Vincent Singco together with several barangay captains received the equipment from CVisNET president Engr. Roberto Cabarrubias and Executive Director Jeffrey Llanto.

The project is dubbed as “Empowering Communities in the Municipality of Ginatilan, Cebu through Science and Technology for the Establishment of Barangay - Level Interactive Information System on Skills, Health, Trade, and Disaster Response”.

According to DOST-7, BeST is an Internet-based e-Government solution that provides a systematic approach to maintaining resident profiles, disaster response, and judicial information.

BeST also allows the creation of documents for efficient planning and monitoring in the barangay level.

Developed by CVISNET, the project's goal is to use science and technology to empower communities in the said municipality by establishing a barangay-based interactive information system.

PSTO Cebu OIC Provincial Director, Engr. Juan Edgar Osorio, said that the project will now provide further technology development to the local government unit especially at the barangay level wherein it would greatly help the people of Ginatilan to bridge the gaps in digital information and transparency in the government system.

The project's centerpiece is the system's effectiveness and advantages.

It includes the provision of an automated filing system for residents' information that can be accessed at any time and from any location; improved government transparency of expected revenue collections; improved information security for residents with online queries; and the generation of barangay documents, permits, IDs, and passes.

There is also information on disaster response at the barangay level, as well as goods and trade database.  — FPL (FREEMAN)