More IT personnel sought for Cebu City Hall

THE shortage of information technology personnel has hampered the Cebu City government’s efforts to computerize its records and provide Wi-Fi access to its two buildings.

William Aratajo, head of the Management Information and Computer Services (MICS), said his office only has 17 programmers working on the development of 50 information systems to be assigned to different City Hall offices.

“We need additional people on the development side… IT is a very in-demand job but in City Hall the salary is lower as offered by the city,” he said in a media briefing held at the mayor’s office conference room.

Aratajao said his office needed P500,000 to set up wireless access points on different parts of City Hall to make both the executive and legislative buildings Wi-Fi areas.

Mayor Michael Rama issued a memorandum before he left for Israel on June 11 directing all department heads to report to the public through the media their accomplishments from January to June.

Artajo said he prepared a seven-minute PowerPoint presentation in compliance with the mayor’s directive.

He said the MICS had computerized the police’s blotter system and crime records.

Artajo said they also updated the city’s Geographic Information System (GIS), which include the identification of structures along the creeks and rivers.

MICS installed virus protection on 300 City Hall computers through a P2-million appropriation. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac