The Senate recently adopted a resolution seeking to establish an integrated and secure digital legislative management system for the Congress to be known as eCongress.
Introduced by Senate President Migz Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III, the chamber unanimously adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 6 in a bid to improve, strengthen, and streamline communications between the Senate and the House of Representatives using digital technology.
“The establishment of the eCongress system will enable both chambers of Congress to efficiently and effectively perform their essential functions of representation, legislation and oversight.”
The establishment of the eCongress system, according to the resolution, would enable both chambers of Congress to efficiently and effectively perform their essential functions of representation, legislation and oversight.
“Advances in technology and greater interconnectivity present opportunities for both the Senate and the House of Representatives to update their intra and inter-chamber processes by adopting and utilizing secure digital systems and infrastructures and online platforms to further strengthen coordination between them and facilitate citizen engagement in the legislative process,” the concurrent resolution stated.
Legarda, in her sponsorship speech, underscored the need to have a digital infrastructure that would allow Congress to constantly collaborate, coordinate, communicate and share knowledge, resources and information.
The veteran legislator added that the eCongress would help address the challenge of making public governance more inclusive and encourage and strengthen people’s participation and empowerment.
“It is appropriate for Congress to invest resources to establish public digital infrastructure to articulate strategies and to integrate advances within the system of governance.”
“It is appropriate for Congress to invest resources to establish public digital infrastructure to articulate strategies and to integrate advances within the system of governance,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
For his part, Villanueva said the eCongress is in line with the current administration’s strong commitment to digitalize, harmonize and standardize government services and data in a bid to ensure efficient and fast delivery of services to the people.
The veteran legislator added that the need to digitalize the country’s governance systems and services was made obvious during the height of the pandemic as demand for connectivity and online availability of party services increased.
