DICT Caraga honors 48 LGUs for digital excellence in local governance
By Nora L. Molde
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| Officials and representatives from 48 local government units across the Caraga Region, together with DICT Caraga officials and partner agencies, pose for a photo during the eLGU Awards 2025 in Butuan City, recognizing LGUs for excellence in digital governance and the successful implementation of the Electronic Local Government Unit (eLGU) System. (Photo courtesy of DICT Caraga) |
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Caraga recognized 48 local government units (LGUs) across the region for outstanding achievements in digital governance, marking a significant milestone in Caraga’s sustained push for efficient, transparent, and citizen-centered public service delivery in line with the national government’s digital transformation agenda.
The eLGU Awards convened 21 elected officials, 13 representatives from partner agencies, and 109 LGU delegates, underscoring the region’s strong collective commitment to digital transformation and whole-of-government collaboration, as directed under the Philippine Development Plan and the National ICT Ecosystem Framework.
Awarded LGUs were cited for the successful operationalization and full implementation of the electronic Local Government Unit (eLGU) System, an integrated digital platform that enables LGUs to automate frontline services such as business permitting, licensing, civil registry transactions, and other essential public services. The initiative supports the national government’s thrust under Executive Order No. 170 and the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, which mandate streamlined, technology-driven, and citizen-focused government processes.
Through digitalization, the eLGU system significantly reduces processing time, minimizes bureaucratic bottlenecks, and improves accessibility to government services for both citizens and businesses, particularly at the local level.
The eLGU Awards promoted excellence in digital governance by recognizing LGUs that effectively leverage technology to enhance service efficiency, transparency, and accountability, while encouraging wider adoption of proven digital solutions in support of the DICT’s Digital Government Transformation Roadmap.
Several LGUs, including Las Nieves in Agusan del Norte; San Francisco in Agusan del Sur; Cagdianao in Dinagat Islands; Socorro in Surigao del Norte; and Tagbina in Surigao del Sur, shared testimonials highlighting tangible gains from eLGU adoption. These include streamlined internal workflows, faster transaction processing, improved data management, and increased public satisfaction, outcomes aligned with the national vision for responsive and inclusive digital governance.
Las Nieves Mayor Karen Rosales, represented by Vice Mayor Avelina Rosales, emphasized the transformative impact of digital governance at the municipal level. “The eLGU system has helped our municipality deliver services more efficiently and transparently. It reduced long queues, simplified procedures for our constituents, and strengthened accountability within our local government,” Vice Mayor Rosales said, noting that digitalization has empowered both frontline personnel and service users.
She further stressed that embracing digital platforms enables LGUs to align local governance initiatives with national digitalization goals while ensuring inclusive and responsive public service.
During the eLGU Awards, seven partner agencies whose sustained support has been instrumental in advancing Caraga’s digital ecosystem were also recognized. These include the Anti-Red Tape Authority – Northern Mindanao Regional Field Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Caraga, Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) Caraga, Land Bank of the Philippines – Butuan City Branch, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga, and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Caraga. Their inter-agency collaboration reflected the whole-of-government approach promoted by the national administration to accelerate digital transformation.
DICT Caraga officials called for LGUs to sustain innovation, strengthen partnerships, and continuously uphold transparency and accountability through digital solutions, in support of the country’s long-term digital governance reforms.
The eLGU Awards, held in December 2025, reaffirmed Caraga’s growing leadership in digital governance, driven by shared commitment, technological innovation, and the collective spirit of Digital Bayanihan. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte, with a report from DICT Caraga)
