Six digital systems deployed by local governments in Western Visayas were among the 40 local government systems recognized from among 109 finalists in the Digital Governance Awards (DGA) 2021 on October 29, 2021.

The awards which started in 2012 as eGOV Awards, and Digital Cities PH Awards in 2018, is now on its ninth year and is jointly organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP).

The DICT-Western Visayas Cluster under Director Mario Cuñado congratulated all awardees and commended all local government units (LGUs) which participated in this year's awards.

Bacolod-based lawyer Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, past president of NICP and project chair of eGOV Awards from 2012 to 2018, said the entries in five categories were evaluated based on innovation management, impact, extent of use of information and communications technology (ICT), replication potential and sustainability.

The Best in Business Empowerment Award (G2B) recognize platforms that improve the business environment of the local government.

For the municipality level, the eWaterworks of the Municipality of Libertad, Province of Antique topped the caregory, with Taytay Rizal's Market Collection System and the eBPLS of Bongao, Province of Tawi Tawi in second and third places, respectively.

For systems that integrate data and platforms within the local governments to improve delivery of services or the Best in Interoperability Award (G2G), first place in the municipality level went to Project eSTAr of Tigbauan, Province of Iloilo, which is a real time tracking system assessing the demographic status in the barangays.

The Net Connectivity for Office, Web Portals and CCTV Connectivity of Mangaldan, Province of Pangasinan and Data Management System of Business Establishment of Agoo, Province of La Union where in second and third places, respectively.

For developing or improving its internal systems and adhering to various recognized standards, or the Best in Government Internal Operations Award (G2I), the Mina Electronic Transparent Financial Management System (METFIMANS) of the Municipality of Mina, Province of Iloilo bagged the top spot with the Bacnotan Transportation System (BTS) of Bacnotan, Province of La Union and the Internal System of Agoo Public Cemetery of the Agoo, Province of La Union in second and third places, respectively.

Beginning last year and this year, a special category to recognize platforms designed by local governments in responses to the pandemic or the Best in Government Covid-19 Pandemic Response Award (G2P) was included in the categories.

The Provincial Civil Defense Case Referral System (ProCID Care System) of the Province of Iloilo landed the second spot in the province level with the Davao del Norte (DavNor) Covid-19 Information Management System and Southern Leyte Automated Contact Tracing System in first and third places, respectively.

For city level, the Viral Assessment and Monitoring System (Vamos) of San Carlos City, Province of Negros Occidental came in as third place with the Baguio Inoculation Digital Application (BIDA) of Baguio City and the Vaccination Information Management System (VIMS) of Cebu City, in first and second places, respectively.

For the municipality level, the Electronic Covid- 19 Quarantine and Vaccine Management (ECQUAVAMA) System of Mina, Province of Iloilo also grabbed the third spot with Taytay Trail and Vax of the Municipality of Taytay, Province of Rizal and the eMoncadaApp of Moncada, Province of Tarlac in first and second, respectively.

San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo, who were along with the staff of the Information Technology and Computer Systems Office (ITCSO) during the virtual awarding rites, thanked the DGA committee for recognizing the city's endeavor in producing a very useful software application that serves the city government and its people not only during this Covid-19 pandemic but for years to come.

Gustilo said he also dedicates the award to the hard-working people behind the VAMOS app creation, the ITCSO staff.

ITCSO Information Technology Officer Joseph Alan Binghay said that what makes the Vamos app unique is not just its ability to expedite the contact tracing of COVID-19 positive cases and its linkage with the Vaccination/Resbakuna program of the government but its human resource engagement --- providing employment to Tech4ED scholars of the city as digital workers.

The Vamos app with its Quick Response (QR) code and numerous self-sustaining features that are user-friendly, economically feasible, and upgradable was formally launched last week at the opening of the 2021Pintaflores Festival as the Official Community App of San Carlos City called Vamos Cares app.

Felix Michael Oberes, ITCSO's Information Systems Analyst, said that the progress of the Vamos app was due to the tenacious efforts of the ITCSO programmers.

They made it even better as the app is now a channel for more service features such as news announcements, emergency response, law enforcement, utility bills and payments, business permits and taxes, e-tickets, document tracking, events and reservations, tourism and marketing, among others, he added.

Aside from San Carlos City, Batapa-Sigue also cited the Province of Negros Occidental, cities of Sipalay and Silay for their business permits and licensing systems and contract tracing applications for having been recognized as finalists in this year's DGA’s.

She looks forward to more cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental to join next year. (With reports PR)