4 Lessons from naga.gov.ph and Naga City

naga.gov.ph
Visit it. It’s the official website of the Naga City government, recipient of various international awards. It’s the e-governance component of the Naga City i-government program. We can learn four things from naga.gv.ph.

First, the Internet is a tool for effective governance. naga.gov.ph is the portal for people and businesses wanting to transact with the Naga city government. Hence, it serves as a check on how the city government is effectively serving the community.

Second, the Internet needs of an LGU can be locally sourced. naga.gv.ph. was set-up without foreign funding or technical assistance. It makes sense since the community itself knows its peculiar needs and hence, how to design its website to address these needs.

Third, the Internet’s effectivity as a tool for good governance only goes as far as real-life good governance. No matter how good an LGU website is, if there is no feedback from the concerned city agency, such website is nothing more but a digital white elephant.

Fourth, the national government should learn from Naga City and naga.gv.ph. But with the recent NBN scandal, the opposite is happening. It still all boils down to one thing: integrity.