Laoag City council goes high tech as ‘paperless’ sessions begin

File photo of a Laoag Council session at a rural barangay

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

AS THE COMPUTER age has shifted to high gear so did the Laoag Sangguniang Panlungsod as the council began their ‘paperless’ sessions.

With the issuance of tablets to members of the council, including presiding officer and Laoag vice mayor Michael V. Fariñas, the council has been on its third ‘paperless’ session.

Laoag information technology officer Franz Reginald C. Felipe, who attended the last regular session, said though they have been implementing the ‘paperless’ session, there are times when they still have to use papers for communication as the program is still in the transition and orientation period.

Felipe added that his office is coordinating with council secretary Enrico Aurelio to tutor councilors who are still not adept with the use of the tablets. He disclosed though that most of the councilors are already skilled in using the tablets.

The ‘paperless’ process is actually two systems: one is through the “cloud” or internet storage where Aurelio posts all communications in an internet cloud service accessible to council members; and the other is through intranet where all councilors can access minutes, committee reports and resolutions and ordinances among others with just one click.

Felipe further stated that councilors are free to use their tablets anytime, anywhere, provided the use is work-related.

Meanwhile, Felipe also stated that similar tablets were also issued earlier to department heads. This, he explained, is for wireless communications, which is already being implemented by the city government.

However, Felipe stressed that the “paperless” process would not apply to specific documents like vouchers as original documents and signatures are required by the Commission on Audit. He added that his office is currently studying other approaches to further improve the paperless system for the city government.