Yuchengco Center for East Asia hosts IT
for local governance confab

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. lauded efforts of local government officials to adopt information technology (IT) for enhancing accountability and transparency. He likewise promised to give his department’s full support for local e-governance.

Lina accepted the workshop recommendations of a cross-section of mayors and other local government officials who attended the conference on IT and Local Governance sponsored by the Yuchengco Center for East Asia and the Asia Foundation on October 19-20 at the Hyatt Regency Manila.

Dr. Francisco Magno, La Salle Institute of Governance director, delivered the framework paper. The province of Bulacan and the City of Muntinlupa presented case studies. In addition, Professor Jae-hyung Lee and Ms. Catherine Chong shared best practices in Korea and Singapore respectively. IBM Chairperson Ramon Dimacali and Amellar Solutions CEO Manuel Tabunda provided presentations from the private sector.

The discussants were Asian Development Bank Specialist Dr. Clay Wescott, DTI Assistant Secretary Toby Monsod, Mapua Institute of Technology President Reynaldo Vea, DILG Director Rolando Acosta, DLSU College of Computer Studies Dean Raymund Sison and Dr. Ramonette Serafica of the College of Business and Economics.

This conference is the second one co-sponsored by the Yuchengco Center for East Asia and the Asia Foundation in the area of e-governance. Yuchengco Center President Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta said that follow-up research projects and workshops would involve such issues as IT training programs and the financing of e-governance in Asia.