More than a third of Irisan barangay’s 35,000 residents have already registered in the “Baguio City In My Pocket” multipurpose smart phone app and web portal that will make entering into government transactions and other engagements more convenient and contactless.
The project is part of the city’s march towards the Smart City status after Mayor Benjamin Magalong partnered with Pampanga-based Information Technology Business Solutions (ITBS).
Magalong said the new technology will rationalize the management of basic city services, enhance monitoring of peace and order, and facilitate the delivery of a wide array of government services to residents, among other features.
ITBS Operations Manager MJ Barin said the ongoing registration at Irisan is free and voluntary with only basic personal information needed.
They are targeting more than 90 percent of barangay residents to register in the program.
Barin said the information will be managed by the city and that proper security firewalls are in place to prevent any systems hacking.
As the city’s largest and most populous barangay, Irisan was chosen as the project’s pilot area to test the app’s viability at the grassroots level.
The app is composed of various systems for digital government transactions and will provide quick access to emergency services and even become a contact-tracing tool, Barin said.
It will also allow residents real-time interaction with local government in promoting participatory governance. – Gaby B. Keith
