The move that computerized the issuance of business permits in Valenzuela City has earned another “Jesse Robredo Award” for the city during the third eGov Award of Excellence in ICT or Information and Communication Technology for Good Governance last week.

The National ICT Confederation of the Philippines or NICP awarded the Best eGov Business Empowerment or G2B Award to Valenzuela City for its entry 3S Plus: Re-engineering for eBusiness in a ceremony held at the SM Premier in Lanang, Davao City last October 24.

The Best G2B Award acknowledges the significant effect of an LGU’s laudable practices in integrating ICT solutions in pursuing the commitment toward creating a business-friendly and competitive environment.

Officially named as the Jesse Robredo Award for Excellence in ICT for Good Governance, the eGov Awards recognizes the best practices in local government units or LGUs in utilizing ICT in the effective delivery of public services directly to constituents and business sectors.

The NICP adopted the official name of Jesse Robredo Award for Excellence in ICT for Good Governance for the annual awarding ceremony in honor of Robredo, who was instrumental as a signatory to the agreement for initiating the nationwide search.

The 3S Plus program entry – which stands for Simple, Speed, and Service – is the core of anti-graft and corruption efforts in Valenzuela City that began during the term of incumbent Valenzuela City Congressman Win Gatchalian as its city mayor in 2007.

Gatchalian, now a member of the House of Representatives for the 16th Congress, utilized 3S Program in making government transactions more efficient and transparent to back the city’s thriving business sector.

Under the new administration of incumbent mayor Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian, Valenzuela City adopted Win’s corporate-style of leadership as it elevates further the anti-graft platform from 3S to 3S Plus Technology.

The first-term mayor has standardized the city government’s use of technology in its daily transactions as it launched last year the 3S Plus Electronic Terminal, the country’s first fully automated computerized building and construction permit procurement system.

The E-Terminal has cut down the procurement time of building permits from two months to two days.

Residents in Valenzuela City are also able to get tax declaration issuance in only 15 to 30 minutes with the help of 3S+ system as compared to the period of two days in the old system.

These advancements have convinced the eGov Awards panel to adjudge Valenzuela City as the best in business empowerment among other 14 LGU finalists in the competition. (Tim Alcantara)