BANTAY GOBYERNO
By Ike Señeres
In theory, it is possible to connect all the
42,028 barangays in the Philippines to the internet, for as long as there is a
signal. As it is now however, the theory is fast becoming the reality, because
it is now possible to put up a signal in every barangay where there is none.
Although it sounds like a tall order, it is actually a realistic goal, because
where there is no signal that could have been put up by the usual commercial
providers, it is now possible to put up that signal using alternative non-commercial
means, using whatever means it takes. As we know it now, the usual commercial
means are via Digital Service Line (DSL), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS),
Long Term Evolution (LTE), Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), microwave and fiber
optic cables, among others. Internet via satellite is also a commercial
service, but it is not generally considered as a usual means.
True
to the saying that if there is a will there is a way, there is now always a way
to get a signal in every unconnected barangay for as long as there is a will,
using other means that are not usually used. For example, it is possible to use
Television White Space (TVWS), and even radio frequency (RF) signals. Even if
signals could be generated locally however, there is still a need for a signal
carrier for the backhaul, using either satellite or microwave means. If and
when these two alternative backhauls are used, there would always be a question
of costs, and that is where the economics of connectivity would come into
place. As I see it, the economics would appear to be positive if the value
added created is greater than the connectivity cost. At the outset, we could
say that the access to knowledge is enough value added, but of course there are
many other economic returns.
To
better understand the workings of barangay computerization, let us just say
that they would need both internal and external systems. For their internal
needs, barangay offices would need the usual administrative software such as
those for human resources and accounting software but aside from that they
would also need systems for resident’s directories, justice delivery, ordinance
records and identification cards, among others. For their external needs, they
would need systems for electronic commerce, online learning, telemedicine and
disaster warnings, among others. In some cases, the municipal governments would
also allow them to have systems for business permits and real property taxes.
One
way to manage computerized systems is to divide the functions into
connectivity, the content and servers. Nowadays however, the option to shift to
the internet cloud has practically eliminated the need for servers. In that
case, the content would be the only remaining challenge once the connectivity
issue is resolved. The content is often interpreted to mainly mean software,
but in reality, the bigger challenge is to populate the databases with data and
it would be best to do that on the fly, meaning to gather data on real time as
the transactions are being conducted. In the case of software, the choice is
either to buy it off the shelf or to develop it internally, but in the case of
the barangay level, it would be practical to just buy it.
In
theory, the barangay unit is actually a corporation that could function as such,
meaning to say that a barangay could be managed under the rules of corporate
governance. Nowadays however, it would be difficult to implement good
governance without implementing computerization and automation. Based on my own
observations however, some barangay officials are not too keen about
computerization and automation because it would make everything transparent,
and there would no longer be any room for discretion. From the perspective of
some corrupt barangay officials, without discretion, there would be lesser ways
to make money. That is so because without discretion, there would be no more
corruption, at least in theory.
In
much the same way that a barangay government could be run like a corporation, a
barangay citizen could actually be regarded as a customer, in which case the
provision of citizen services could actually be managed under the good
practices of Customer Relations Management (CRM). Moreover, since a barangay
government is offering products and services, its day to day functions and
operations could actually make use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). That
is actually a valid assumption, because a barangay government is actually an
enterprise also. As it is generally known, CRM could actually be part of CRM,
as well as the other systems such as Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS)
and Computerized Accounting Systems (CAS). Even the Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) could become part of ERP.
For
feedback email iseneres@yahoo.com or
text +639956441780
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