ILIGAN CITY (PIA)–During the opening program of citizen assembly conducted by the Makati Business Club and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, City Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz cited the value of digital democracy and its role in effective governance.
Vera Cruz said that the citizens can participate in planning for policies with consultations using technology. The local government unit (LGU) will utilize pol.is, which is an online survey platform that uses artificial intelligence to interpret data from the participants’ answers in real-time providing freedom to share thoughts without being unduly influenced by others’ opinions.
“Dili lang kami sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang magmugna sa mga balaod, kon dili, apil kitang tanan sa pagplano kung unsa ang mga polisiya nga mas maayo para sa tanan, pinaagi sa pagpaminaw ug pagkonsulta sa mga katawhan gamit ang teknolohiya,” he said.
[We in the city council are not the only ones to create the laws, we are all involved in planning what policies are best for everyone, by listening and consulting the people using technology.]
Highlighting the value of digital democracy, Vera Cruz shared that the LGU uses mobile platforms such as Facebook in disseminating information, projects, and creating feedback mechanisms on activities and services.
Vera Cruz acknowledged that there is more to be improved in using information and communications technology in connecting with the public for their inquiries and other concerns. He also noted how digital democracy is significant not only to the public but also to the youth.
“Digital democracy optimizes the return on public investments. It also attracts the younger generation with twenty-first-century skills to enter government service. We want to see millennials complementing the wisdom and experience of baby boomers with their vitality and creativity,” he said.
To recall, Iligan City is one of the selected “high potential areas for transformation into digital cities by 2025” by the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
The LGU envisions to position the City as an alternative investment destination for the IT and Business Process Management industry within the coming years. (LELA/PIA Lanao del Norte)
