Yamsuan says Remulla’s digitalization plan for LGUs can cut red tape
MANILA, Philippines — Newly-appointed Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s push for digitalization within local government units (LGUs) to improve the delivery of services is a welcome idea, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said on Wednesday.
Yamsuan in a statement on Wednesday further said that this approach from Remulla, as he leads the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), complements his and Congress’ advocacy of harnessing technology in making service delivery faster.
Aside from that, Yamsuan said the push would also cut red tape within LGUs, and help in targeting beneficiaries who need government assistance.
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“I fully support and laud Secretary Remulla’s plan to digitalize the operations of LGUs, which is in sync with our ongoing efforts to find ways of speeding up the delivery of assistance to the government’s intended beneficiaries and providing it directly to them,” Yamsuan said.
According to Yamsuan—a former DILG assistant secretary—he and other members of the Congress have been pushing for the use of modern equipment not only for LGUs, but also for the department’s attached agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP).
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Article continues after this advertisement“We have long been pushing for digitalization and the use of modern tools not only for our LGUs but also for our Philippine National Police,” Yamsuan said.
“I have always pointed out during our committee hearings in Congress that instead of seeing technology as a threat, we should find ways to use this to improve the welfare of our countrymen,” he added.
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Remulla was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as Interior secretary last October 8 to replace former secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.
Abalos stepped down from the role following his decision to run for the Senate in the 2025 midterm elections.
According to Remulla, he wants to make promotions in the PNP more fair, aside from initiating reforms that would streamline the organization.
Remulla is facing a tall order, as different sectors have asked that LGUs be mobilized in solving the country’s problems—like a suggestion from the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) that LGUs participate in a whole-of-nation approach in solving the learning crisis.
According to Yamsuan, his office has tried to use digital technology in their programs, like in the educational assistance program he initiated, where different online tools were used for to streamline the filing of applications.
“This method has done away with tedious processes and long queues for the applicants,” Yamsuan said.
