Sunday, March 11, 2007 Interior office to fast-track computerization program in local gov’ts
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is stepping up this year the implementation of an information technology (IT) project designed to computerize the processing of business permits, tax assessments and other administrative work in provincial, city and municipal governments nationwide, in line with continuing efforts to improve governance and enhance the revenue-generating capabilities of local government units (LGUs).
InteriorSecretary Ronaldo Puno said the Computerization of LGU Administrative System (Clas) project aims to help LGUs harness information technology in streamlining their operations and tracking data for effective planning and efficient management.
“The project seeks to put in place a management information system and a personnel information system; enhance local revenue generation through the computerization of the processing of business permits, licensing, real property tax assessment and collection; and set up a legislative tracking and performance monitoring system in all LGUs,” Puno said.
To help LGUs computerize the processing of business permits and other documents, he said the DILG is providing software solutions to municipal governments that cannot afford to purchase such expensive IT packages from private institutions.
Puno said the department has also developed a Management Information System (MIS) and a Personnel Management Information System (PMIS) that interested LGUs can adopt to conform to their specific needs and requirements, while a Sanggunian (Local Legislature) Information System has also been made available to LGUs to help track and monitor legislative performance at the local level.
Regional Technical Assistance Teams (RTATs) have already been formed and created to implement the CLAS project nationwide, Puno said. These RTATs have already been farmed out to “market” the project to LGUs, he added.
“We will step up the implementation of the CLAS project this year so that more LGUs, especially in the Visayas and Mindanao, would be able to enjoy the benefits of computerization,” Puno said. “This initiative is a vital component of our continuing program to further strengthen the autonomy of our LGUs.”
Puno said besides enhancing revenue generation and streamlining operations, the CLAS project would likewise help LGUs save on paperwork costs, simplify data management, promote transparency and reduce red tape.
The Bureau of Local Government Development (BLGD), which is implementing CLAS, has so far conducted training workshops in 15 municipalities of Ilocos Sur and various provinces of the Visayas to inform local officials of the advantages of the project and how they can adopt this system in their respective localities. (Press release)
