24 gov’t agencies now connected thru eGovPH app

Aside from removing the necessity of visiting and queueing at government offices, he said the app would also allow for “24/7 governance” since the app can operate at all times instead of being limited from Monday to Friday during business hours. (Pixabay photo)

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The mobile application (app) eGovPH now offers online services for 24 different Philippine government agencies, with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) aiming to streamline all government services through the app.

In a live-streamed pre-SONA interview over PTV Thursday, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said the app offers services from agencies such as Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and also gives access to the national digital ID.

“[Kung] kailangan ninyo nang mag-renew ng mga professional licenses ninyo, mayroon na, nandoon na sa app. So, makukuha ninyo na rin iyong PRC license ninyo doon sa app na iyon (If you need to renew your professional licenses, it’s already available in the app. You’ll be able to get your PRC license through the app),” Uy said.

Aside from removing the necessity of visiting and queueing at government offices, he said the app would also allow for “24/7 governance” since the app can operate at all times instead of being limited from Monday to Friday during business hours.

“[Hindi na] maga-absent tayo sa trabaho para makapag-file ng kung anu-anong mga clearance, mga permits or mga application, eh puwede nang gawin online. So, ang motto nga namin doon, don’t get in line, get online (There would be no need to skip work to file clearances, permits, or applications—they will all be available online. Our motto is, don’t get in line, get online),” he said.

To date, he said the DICT is coordinating with banks and other establishments to ensure they will accept digital IDs accessible through the eGovPH app.

“Nag-uumpisa lang kasi tayo. So ang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, ang mga establishments ay hindi pa sanay dahil sanay sila sa physical card eh. So, ngayon, dahan-dahan nating inu-orient sila para masanay sila na digital (We’re slowly rolling it out. Government agencies and other establishments are still used to physical cards, we’re slowly orienting them to get used to digital IDs),” he said.

He also said that the Philippines’ ranking index at the United Nations International Telecommunications Union went up by nine points.

“Ito ay napakalaking advance ‘no compared sa worldwide na mga improvements in terms of the index. Ito ay reflection na malaki iyong impact ng ating mga programa sa connectivity (This is a massive advancement compared to worldwide improvements in terms of the index. This reflects the big influence of our programs on connectivity),” he said.