Photo courtesy of Himamaylan City Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao
BACOLOD CITY – The City of Himamaylan in Negros Occidental launched on Thursday a mobile application that will serve as a platform for its citizens to raise issues and concerns, particularly on infrastructure development.
The Citizen Participation in Governance or CPaG is a local digital democracy initiative of the southern Negros city now downloadable through Google Play Store.
Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao said through the CPaG, they envision to empower ordinary citizens to petition the local government on policies and programs, and provide a monitoring mechanism for the implementation of infrastructure projects.
“CPaG, which sounds like sipag, a Filipino term for zeal, is a call to action for citizens to be passionate in keeping the government accountable and doing their part in the project of nation-building,” Gatuslao said ahead of the project launch held at the City Hall. “It also seeks to harness social media and technology for citizen engagement.”
The mobile app was developed by the city government in partnership with the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT), with a funding grant of USD2,500 from the US-based International Republican Institute.
Himamaylan City is the lone local government unit (LGU) in Negros Occidental to have received a grant in this funding round.
Gatuslao was able to secure the assistance as a fellow of "Kaya Natin’s Young Leaders for Good Governance", and also in partnership with the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation.
The mobile app, which can be downloaded for free, is managed and controlled by a small group -- a task force composed of representatives of the Office of the City Mayor, City Council, and Information Technology Office.
To access CPaG, the user needs to log in either using email or Facebook details. In submitting the report, complaint or any concern, residents have to provide requirements, including a selection of a category, or the type of infrastructure being complained – from the water system to drainage, electricity to public parks.
Also required are information on specific places such as "sitio", "purok", and "barangay"; a brief description of what the complaint is all about; and photo attachment.
“A photo is required because it’s very difficult to pinpoint exactly, whether the concern is legitimate, without photographic proof,” Gatuslao said.
Maintained by BNEFIT’s service provider, the app also enables the residents to even send complaints directly to the local government.
Gatuslao said citizens have the tendency not to report due to many “filters” before their complaints can reach the concerned offices, such as the Office of the Mayor.
They would rather criticize the local government through social media rather than lodge actual complaints to seek action, he added.
“We’re trying to find a middle ground by using a platform that is social media-based. I call it Instagram for governance issues because apart from submitting, one can also view the submissions of others,” Gatuslao said. (PNA)
