Full TEXT:

ORDINANCE NO. 2024-068

AN ORDINANCE MANDATING FULL AUTOMATION OF GOVERNMENT TRANSACTIONS IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF NAGA, AUTHORIZING THE USE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS), AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES:

Author: Hon. Joselito S.A. del Rosario, Ph.D.

SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES. The following policies and objectives are set forth under this Ordinance:

1. To establish effective mechanisms aimed at efficient turnaround in the delivery of government services;
2. To adopt simplified requirements to reduce face-to-face transactions and expedite business related transactions in the city government;
3. To maximize the use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool to strengthen operations and boost the revenue-generation programs of the city; and
4. To facilitate government and city-wide information exchanges and storage of transactions, through the utilization of information technology.

SECTION 2. SCOPE AND COVERAGE. This Ordinance seeks to further strengthen and improve the flow of transactions in the City Government of Naga.

The reach now includes strengthened collaboration of all departments, offices, units, as well as barangays of the City. It will cover various services such as but not limited to assessment, permitting, licensing, clearance, and other frontline services as provided in their respective Citizen’s Charter.

Moreover, with the enactment of City Ordinance 2023-133, which mandates for the efficient delivery of city government services by providing mechanisms for the effective implementation of the Naga City Citizen’s Charter, all the more bolsters the move to find ways to further improve the City government’s response to citizen’s transaction/s vis a viz the LGU Naga.

SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. For purposes of this Ordinance, the following terms and phrases are hereby defined as follows:

(a) Government service – the process or transaction between applicants or requesting party/ies and government offices, agencies, or barangays involving applications for any privilege, right, reward, license, clearance, permit or authorization, concession, or for any modification, renewal, or extension of the enumerated applications or requests. This includes frontline services enrolled in the existing Citizen’s Charter;

(b) Citizen or Client – person or entity whose interest and/or values are addressed by a particular government service and, therefore, include not only the citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, but also all the stakeholders, including but not limited to, users, beneficiaries, other government offices and agencies, and the transacting public;

(c) Citizen’s Charter – is an official document, a service standard, or a pledge, that communicates, in simple terms, information on the services provided by a department/office to its clients pursuant to Section 6 RA 11032

(d) Electronic data message – refers to information generated, sent, received or stored by electronic, optical or similar means, but not limited to, electronic data interchange (EDI), electronic mail, telegram, telex or telecopy;

(e) Digitalization – the process of transferring of delivering files/documents into digital form using the appropriate technology

(f) Automation – the mechanics or process of transaction/s that the city government can offer given the fast-changing technology of today;

(g) Full-automation – the expeditious delivery of services using available technology that the city government can acquire, use and/or maximize for the greater benefit of the citizenry;

(h) Geographic Information System – a spatial tool widely used in advanced cities and countries which maximizes the full potential of government undertakings for the greater benefit of the community.

(i) RA 8792 – refers to the Electronic Commerce Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations;

(j) RA 11032 –  refers to the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations;

(k) RA 10173 – The Data Privacy Law of the Philippines

(l) Ordinance No. 2023-133 – An Ordinance Ensuring the Efficient Delivery of City Government Services by Providing Mechanisms for the Effective Implementation of the Naga City Citizen’s Charter

(m) Ordinance No. 2020-050 – An Ordinance Strengthening the Information and Technology Office of Naga City

SECTION 4. USE OF ONLINE OR ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS IN ALL OFFICES, DEPARTMENTS, UNITS, SECTIONS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF NAGA. After the approval of this Ordinance and in compliance with existing national laws and regulations, the Information and Technology Office (ITO) shall endeavor to assist all offices, departments, and units of the City Government of Naga, including the barangays on the use of online or electronic means, which, among others, may cover the following:

(a) Accept the filing of documents in the form of electronic data messages or electronic documents;

(b) Issue permits, licenses, clearances, and other authorizations in the form of electronic data messages or electronic documents, and that the approval thereof using electronic signatures;

(c) Issue assessments for payments, accept payments, and issue receipts acknowledging such payments, through online or electronic systems;

(d) Create, file, or retain such electronic data messages or electronic documents.

(e) Other electronic means possible to enhance the implementation of this Ordinance.

SECTION 5. MANDATORY STREAMLINING OF CITY GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN LINE WITH ONLINE OR ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS BASED ON SECTION 4 HEREOF. All concerned offices shall submit to the Advisory Board created under Ordinance 2020-050 a comprehensive list of their respective government services, which shall include, among others, the following:

(a) Steps in detail to complete the service/process, including a checklist of requirements including a flowchart;

(b) Assessment/Transaction Costs and Online Mode of Payment which may be incurred by a citizen or client in the course of availing a government service;

(c) Number and Name of Signatories required in the processing of the transaction.

(d) Documentary Requirements which are required, including the type and number of copies, among others.

Upon completion and review of the Advisory Board and using the prescribed format for this purpose, the streamlined services shall be finalized and henceforth be the basis for the automation process.

SECTION 6. DIGITALIZATION. For purposes of digitalization, identified documents as required by existing policies, whether local or national– shall be pursued as required and necessary.

The City Government, through the ITO, after due consultation, shall identify those departments and offices whose documents and/or files are to be digitalized.

SECTION 7. INNOVATIONS IN DIGITALIZATION AND AUTOMATION. If in the course of implementation of this Ordinance, innovation/s in the areas of digitalization as well as automation are henceforth put forward, the same shall be discussed and considered by the Advisory Board so as to enhance the implementation of the same.

SECTION 8. PHASE IMPLEMENTATION. Taking into consideration the budgetary limitations, the City Government hereby adopts phase implementation as strategy to pursue the intents and purposes of this Ordinance.

The ITO, in close consultation with the Advisory Board, shall draw the roadmap for the stages of implementation of this Ordinance.

It is, however, the avowed policy of the City Government of Naga to fully automate its operations in the next three (3) years.

SECTION 9. USE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM. The use of Geographic Information System (GIS) as a tool to maximize the full potential of government undertakings for the greater benefit of the community, shall be adhered to.

The City Government, guided by the Annual Investment Plan (AIP), shall endeavor and pursue to adopt said technology in order to materialize its operation in the city.

As far as practicable, all revenue-generating offices shall be prioritized in the application of GIS so that investment in the same may be recouped by the City Government at the soonest possible time.

Furthermore, in cases of utilities, the functions of which are vital to the operations of the City, the City Mayor is herein authorized to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the different public utilities for purposes of including the same to the GIS, subject to the ratification of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

SECTION 10. DATA PRIVACY. Observance of the Data Privacy Law is primordial in all phases of the implementation of this Ordinance.

SECTION 11. CYBERSECURITY MECHANISMS. In order to secure the information infrastructure of the City Government, all efforts must be exerted, under the auspices of the Advisory Board, to prevent and/or mitigate cybersecurity disruptions.

SECTION 12. AMENDMENTS IN THE EXISTING CITIZEN’S CHARTER. If during the implementation of this Ordinance, necessary changes are required to be introduced in the existing citizen’s charter of the Offices of the City Government of Naga, as well as the barangays mentioned in Section 2 hereof, the same shall be considered so as to effect the necessary corrections/amendments/modifications which are beneficial to the over-all operations of the LGU Naga.

SECTION 13. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. Within sixty (60) days upon the approval of this Ordinance, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) shall be drafted by a Committee duly constituted by the Office of the City Mayor.

The concerns on change management, cyber security, and information infrastructure shall be considered in the IRR as well as other details not heretofore covered for the purpose of enhancing the provisions of this Ordinance.

Said IRR shall be considered as forming part of this Ordinance.

SECTION 14. FUNDING. The funds necessary for the implementation of this Ordinance is hereby allocated, and every year thereafter, under the account of the ITO until the full completion and satisfaction of the provisions of this Ordinance.

SECTION 15. AIP ADJUSTMENT. Adjustment/modification in the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) of the City Government of Naga to reflect said legislation takes effect upon the effectivity of this Ordinance.

SECTION 16. REPEALING CLAUSE. Any provision of existing ordinance, rules and regulations and/or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

SECTION 17. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. Should any portion or provisions of this ordinance be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 18. EFFECTIVITY. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

ENACTED: June 25, 2024.

WE HEREBY CERTIFY to the correctness of the foregoing ordinance.

GIL A. DE LA TORRE
Secretary to the
Sangguniang Panlungsod

MARIKA ARAL TAYAS
Youth Secretary to the
Sangguniang Panlungsod

CECILIA B. VELUZ-DE ASIS
City Vice Mayor
& Presiding Officer

ALLYSA ROBELLE COMEDA
City Youth Vice Mayor
& Presiding Officer

APPROVED:

NELSON G. LEGACION
City Mayor

BRIDGET KYLE F. BERNAL
City Youth Mayor