Marcos says using gov't 'super app' will lessen corruption

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday expressed optimism that corruption would be lessened with the use of the "e-Gov PH Super App" that integrates all government online services in one platform.

This, as Marcos graced the launch of the government's super app in the President Hall inside Malacañang Palace.

The President explained that through the app, public services will be simplified and there will be no "discretion" coming from a government employee. He also said that through this system, the public's problem of engaging with "fixers" will be avoided.

"There is another part of this that is extremely important, that we sometimes do not talk about and that is the lessening of corruption. Because, you do not have to talk to a person at all, for the entire process, wala kang kausap na tao (you don't talk to anyone). There's no discretion that's being exercised at any point. It's either yes, no, yes, no... it's binary," Marcos said in his speech.

"That way, it simplifies the process especially for the citizens and there is no discretion being exercised by anyone. Eh kung di mo ko lagyan, hindi ko ipapaano ito. Iipitin ko ito, mga ganon. Kausapin mo si ganito, ganyan, siya magaayos, 'yung fixer niya. Mawawala na 'yan (If you will not give me money, I will hold this. You talk to this person, he will fix this, his fixer. These will all be avoided). We owe that to the people," he added.

The Chief Executive also said the whole idea of e-governance is something the Philippines has to do in this time of digitalization.

"We did a survey of how people used the internet in the Philippines and the result was quite enlightening. They say, 95% of their daily activities, the shopping, the paying, the bank, even the payments to government, 95% are done online," Marcos said.

"Ano 'yung 5%? Government. We cannot do it online, we have to go to the office, we have to collect the birth certificate, the documentation, the clearance and then we go to the government and they say 'you're missing one document.' Balik na naman. That just won't work," he added.

National IDs

Meanwhile, the national ID will be used as a single verification for government transaction done through the government super app.

Marcos stressed that the government has already been working on the delivery of these national IDs, saying that they are really going to be "the central focal point for the dissemination of information and the dissemination of services."

"That's what we're working on and I think we're making a good deal of progress, we're finding those operations, those groups who were able to print them out. Right now, it's a little unsatisfactory because what we call an ID is essentially a picture of an ID. There's no data that backs it up," Marcos said.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy said Marcos already gave instructions to determine the cause of the delays in the release of the IDs.

Uy, meanwhile, said the public could already download the app for free from the Apple Store and Google Play.

"This will be a continuing process as we continually improve the system, as we continue to bring together all the government agencies in the platform," Uy told reporters.

"I hope you enjoy the new experience of the Philippine government online," Uy added. 

Uy said a user could also register his/her SIM Card through the app. 

In a separate message to Palace reporters, Uy said the app would be "deployed in phases" given that there are about 455 national government agencies, 114 state universities and colleges, 1,600 local government units, and over 100 Government-Owned or-Controlled Corporations.

"I don’t think it is reasonable to expect that in 10 months we are able to put them in this e-Gov App. So it is deployed in phases. This launching is an initial activity that connects a few of the agencies that are most ready to be on board," Uy said.

"Gradually, we will be adding more agencies and features. It is an evolving product," Uy added.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News