Former Senator and 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is pushing for the transformation of local government units (LGUs) into smart cities to help curb corruption by minimizing human intervention – while making public services more efficient.
Lacson said the experiences of Baguio and Carmona Cities in the Philippines, as well as Shenzhen in China, show how technology can be used to monitor a city’s key systems including transportation and infrastructure.
Also included in the benefits of having smart cities are crime monitoring and reporting, he noted.
“In this day and age of modern information technology, we must transform into something more technical. Humans are very limited in monitoring key systems. With the use of technology, we can keep corruption in check,” he said in Filipino at an open forum with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) late Tuesday.
Related: Ping Lacson, Isinulong ang Pag-Convert ng LGUs sa Smart Cities Para Labanan ang Katiwalian
He said that in such cities, infrastructures such as busted pipes can be immediately detected, with the household concerned being informed and told to fix or face fines. There is no need to send human inspectors, he said.
Similarly, Lacson has long pushed for digitalization of government services, including the operation of agencies like the Bureau of Customs, to eliminate “human intervention” that often leads to corruption.
Meanwhile, Lacson said that should he earn a seat in the Senate, he would exercise oversight functions to find out why the Anti-Red Tape Act that he authored and sponsored is implemented poorly.
While the law deems simple transactions as approved after three days and complex transactions after 10 days, there are complaints that transactions take up to 20 days.
“What can Congress do about it? Strong oversight. Our mandate as lawmakers includes monitoring if the laws we passed are being implemented in accordance with the intent,” he said.
Lacson also encouraged the business sector to blow the whistle on cases of corruption, and avail of programs such as the witness protection program that will protect their identities if needed.
“You can voice out your complaints, whatever proposals you have through your legislators. That’s why we are called representatives of the people… You can do a lot actually being in the business community, not necessarily by exposing yourselves,” he said.
*****
Ping Lacson, Isinulong ang Pag-Convert ng LGUs sa Smart Cities Para Labanan ang Katiwalian
Isinulong ni dating Senador at 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ang pag-convert ng mga local government units (LGUs) para maging smart cities, para matulungang pigilan ang korapsyon sa pamamagitan ng pag-alis ng “human intervention” – habang pinapaganda ang serbisyo publiko.
Ani Lacson, kitang kita sa Baguio at Carmona Cities sa Pilipinas, at Shenzhen sa Tsina kung paano nagagamit ang teknolohiya para i-monitor ang mga sistema ng siyudad kabilang ang transportasyon at imprastraktura.
Kabilang din sa benepisyo ng pagkakaroon ng smart cities ang pinaigting na crime monitoring at reporting, ayon kay Lacson.
“In this day and age of modern IT, kailangan mag-transform na tayo into something more technical. Kung human lagi ang monitoring, medyo napaka-limited. Pati sa corruption mache-check,” aniya sa open forum kasama ang Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) nitong Martes.
Sa ganitong smart cities, aniya, ang mga sira sa tubo ay madaling makita, at masabihan ang kinauukulang may-ari ng bahay na ayusin ito o magbayad ng multa – at hindi na kailangang magpadala pa ng tao para mag-inspeksyon.
Matagal nang tinutulak ni Lacson ang digitalization ng serbisyo sa pamahalaan, kabilang ang operasyon ng ahensya tulad ng Bureau of Customs, para alisin ang “human intervention” na madalas ay nauuwi sa korapsyon.
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na kung makabalik siya sa Senado, gagamitin niya ang oversight function para malaman kung bakit tila palpak ang pagpapatupad ng Anti-Red Tape Act na kanyang inakda at in-sponsor sa Senado.
Bagama’t nasa ilalim ng batas ay kailangang aprubado ang simple transactions matapos ang tatlong araw at complex transactions matapos ang 10 araw, may reklamo na umaabot ang ilang transaksyon ng 20 araw.
“Anong magagawa ng Congress? Strong oversight. Kasi ang kasama sa mandate once we pass the laws we should monitor if the laws we passed are being implemented in accordance with the intent,” ani Lacson.
Hinikayat din ni Lacson ang negosyante na ibuking ang korapsyon at kung kakailanganin, gamitin ang programa tulad ng witness protection program para maprotektahan sila.
“You can voice out your complaints, whatever proposals you have through your legislators. That’s why we are called representatives of the people… You can do a lot actually being in the business community, not necessarily by exposing yourselves,” aniya.
*****