SAN PABLO CITY. The local government of San Pablo City has officially begun laying the groundwork for a comprehensive digital transformation program aimed at overhauling outdated systems and processes, in line with the directive of newly elected Mayor Najie Gapangada.
After two weeks of root cause analysis and focused group discussions, the City Management Information System (CMIS) identified longstanding issues that have hindered the city’s progress in embracing digital change. The most significant finding revealed that technology has long been viewed merely as a back-office tool, not as a vital asset that creates a lasting impact and delivers return on investment.
According to Ferdinand G. Alcos, Division Chief of the Digital Transformation and Smart City Initiative, and Jeremy G. Alcantara, Officer-in-Charge of CMIS, several legacy practices, some dating back more than two decades, remain embedded in city operations. Discussions with the Development Operations (DevOps) team, the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), and the Land Tax Division revealed deep-seated issues, including departmental silos and outdated or unstreamlined processes.
“Real transformation begins by shifting the mindset, streamlining systems, and breaking away from the old way of doing things,” said Alcos, who emphasized that merely digitizing outdated workflows is not enough.
Alcos noted that while various technology providers had pitched DevOps and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to the city, most lacked strategic direction. Many did not align with standards set by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) or global organizations such as the Association of City and Municipal Information Officers (ACIOA) and the Philippine CIO Association (PCIOA). Scalability and long-term vision were often missing from these proposals.
Mayor Gapangada, who has prioritized innovation and modernization in his administration’s agenda, gave clear instructions to begin implementing real change by next year. Under his leadership, the city aims to transition from fragmented and manual systems to an integrated, data-driven governance model.
According to the mayor, digital transformation is not just a trend but a necessity for any local government unit seeking to improve transparency, efficiency, and public service delivery. His vision is to build a modern San Pablo where citizens can access services with ease, where government departments can collaborate through shared digital platforms, and where data can be used to drive smart decision-making.
“A well-digitalized LGU can make government services faster, more transparent, and more responsive to the needs of the people,” Mayor Gapangada said. “We want to eliminate red tape, empower our employees with the right tools, and give the public a seamless experience when dealing with the city government.”
“This is just the beginning. Change is never easy, but it is long overdue, and we’re moving,” added Alcos.
The Digital Transformation and Smart City Initiative will continue to assess existing systems and policies, with the goal of launching scalable, citizen-centric digital solutions in the coming months.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
