Capitol Bags DILG Business Efficiency Awards
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently conferred two awards to the Cebu Provincial Government for its initiated measures under the Digital Cities Awards: Best Practices in eGovernance in Local Government Units.
The Capitol won first place for the Best in eGovBusiness Empowerment (G2B) category, while topping third in the Best in eGov Government Inter Operability category (G2G).
For the eGov Business Empowerment category, the DILG lauded the Capitol’s unified online purchase-to-pay system known as SUGBO, or Smart Utilities for Government Business Operations.
SUGBO, owned and operated by Cebu Province, was crafted by the Cebu Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) through the administration of the Capitol’s Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO). It was a project of one of the groups in the first batch of the Capitol Citizenship and Leadership Academy.
Gov. Hilario P. Davide III, during his State of the Province Address in 2016, said that he will craft convenient and faster ways for government services and transactions.
With his good governance and social service agenda, Davide also pledged to deliver efficient facilities with the help of modern technology and methods.
The awards, through DILG Memorandum Circular 2018-86, aims to integrate information and communications technology (ICT) in local government unit (LGU) processes and improve local business ecosystem by motivating the private and business sector to actively participate and invest in the growth of the LGU and promote transparency in local governance.
SUGBO serves as the source of information for all Capitol procurement transactions from point of procurement up to payment process. It serves all suppliers, Capitol offices, contractors and bidders who have official business transactions with the Provincial Government.
During the Capitol’s weekly Kasayuran media forum held last May 2018, PGSO head SiegfredJone Sepe said the system has a significant impact, especially among suppliers because they can now monitor the payment process through the SUGBO Portal.
He added that the Provincial Government was able to save funds for purchases as more suppliers are now participating in the bidding since they are assured of the fixed date of payment.
“More suppliers, means more competition and we (Capitol) will benefit from this through the reduction in their tenders (offered by the suppliers),” Sepe said.
With SUGBO system, Sepe said the number of days in the payment process among suppliers has dropped significantly.
In the last years, the average payment process in the Capitol will last 123 calendar days, but with the new system, it has dropped to 37 calendar days.
Image source: http://www.cebu.gov.ph
The eGov Business Empowerment (G2B) award cites the significant effect of an LGU’s laudable practices in integrating ICT solutions.
Through this category, the DILG lauds the LGU’s commitments, especially in its responsiveness to the needs of the business enterprise that will eventually create business opportunities.
The Capitol also garnered the Best in eGovGovernment Inter-Operability through the Provincial Health Office’s systematic IT advancement in employee hiring, modern ancillary services, medical specialization and ISO accreditation. (Cebu Provincial Gov’t)
