THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has inked an agreement with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for a “more synchronized and well-coordinated” ICT system in the ecozones.
According to Peza Director General Tereso O. Panga, the MOU between the two government agencies are the two parties’ response to the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to “ramp up” digitalization in government to ensure fast and efficient delivery of services to the public.
For Peza’s part, he said it is committed to carry out Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual’s directive to adopt digital transformation to boost the country’s competitiveness as an investment destination particularly for high-tech and “innovator accelerator” companies.
“We are once again making another breakthrough as we continuously enhance data security, transparency, and government transactions to better serve our ecozone developers, locators, and investors making the country more conducive to do and expand businesses with,” the Peza chief said.
For his part, DICT Secretary Ivan John E. Uy expressed confidence that the MOU signing for e-governance between Peza and DICT will “unify” everyone as one government to push for the use of a single operating system for all government transactions ensuring a “faster, streamlined, and more convenient delivery of government services in the country.”
According to the Peza chief, with DICT’s help and guidance, the efforts that Peza has exerted throughout these years, in connection with digitalization will “continue and remain steadfast to enhance office and administrative efficiencie, customer satisfaction, and the delivery of services for a much-improved ease of doing business (EODB).”
In a statement on Monday, Peza said under the MOU, the DICT will “assess and evaluate as well as assist in the development and enhancement of current applications and systems of Peza and provide recommendations and strategy for the improvement of the agency’s ICT system.”
“The DICT shall also provide an appraisal of the programs and projects that both agencies may agree to develop and shall ensure that identified and existing applications and systems of Peza will be integrated with DICT and that of the digitalization aspect of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s 8-Point Socio-Economic Agenda,” the investment promotion agency also noted.
In turn, Peza “shall provide guidance on its processes and relevant information and data to DICT ensuring that respective systems and applications are interoperable.”
“By adopting e-governance and advancing the development of various solutions, together, we can eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies, reduce red tape, and provide faster and more convenient access to critical government services,” the DICT chief said.
Panga said that “Peza has recently rolled out its e-payment system and is set to launch its e-LOA in June this year to automate the remaining office processes to further enhance the facilitation of ecozone shipments. This will make Peza among the trailblazers in government into cashless and paperless transactions.”
Meanwhile, Peza said it is also eyeing other high-impact IT infrastructure and automation projects for implementation this year such as hybrid internet connectivity in the ecozones, e-container tracking system with Bureau of Customs (BOC), electronic visa and building permits, e-financial management system, Engineering Permits Assessment Monitoring System (EPAMS), digital marketplace, full integration of the public ecozone command centers, and cyber security solutions.
