Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) President and Quirino Governor Dax Cua has announced the launching of the Quirino Province Online Action Center (QPOAC) and as he urges fellow local government executives to transition to “digital governance” in order to safely serve their constituents in the “better normal.”
“We do not know when the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic will end, so we have to adapt and modify the services we provide so our constituents can safely transact with their local governments,” said Cua.
“The online action center is public service that never stops.”
“With limited mobility and the safety afforded by contactless transactions, going online and adopting a digital governance framework is no longer just an option––it is necessary.”
Cua explained that the QPOAC aims to make the provincial government more open, more accessible, and more responsive to Quirinians, ensuring that the provincial government can be reached 24/7––even after office hours, on weekends, and during holidays.
The University of the Philippines alumnus also pointed out that the online action center “is public service that never stops; it is easy, fast, cheap, safe, and secure––and it is the way to go in the post-pandemic world and the better normal.”
Cua added that with the QPOAC, Quirinians can communicate their concerns, reports, complaints, or requests by private messages on the Facebook page of the Quirino Province Online Action Center or by Facebook Messenger.
This is the first of many steps to be taken to digitize the Quirino provincial government, Cua said.
Meanwhile, the ULAP chief appealed to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to step up efforts to ensure that internet access providers provide fast, reliable and stable internet connection in the provinces and allow local government units (LGUs) to engage in “digital governance.”
“We in the provinces want to maximize the advantages of the internet.”
“Kung sa Metro Manila may problema pa rin ang internet, you can imagine the challenges being faced in the provinces,” lamented Cua, who was referring to the July 1 Senate Committee on Public Services hearing that was suspended by Senator Grace Poe after it was hampered by internet connection issues.
“We in the provinces want to maximize the advantages of the internet and really leverage this technology for our constituents, but if our constituents cannot go online, the point will be moot,” said Cua.
“There really has to be a concerted effort on the part of government to improve internet services in the country, especially in the countryside,” he added.