Leyte Provincial Board institutionalizes paperless system

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September 3, 2013

TACLOBAN CITY – The Vice Governor and the members of the Board Members of the province of Leyte have collectively agreed to institutionalize the paperless system in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Leyte Vice Governor Atty. Carlo P. Loreto told the Philippine Information Agency that the paperless system is now being used in the Sanggunian.

“At the onset, the new system will normally entail some major changes and new procedures to follow which may be perplexing to some of us,” Vice Governor Loreto said, Nevertheless, he gave the assurance that with the assistance of the technical personnel, the system will be adapted as expected.

It was learned that the members of the provincial board now have tablets which they could open and use anytime and anywhere to see and to study the Agenda for the next session.

Vice Governor Loreto said the institutionalization of the paperless system in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is in harmony with the Provincial Government’s persistent advocacy for the protection and preservation of the environment and in compliance with RA 8972 or the Philippine Electronics Commerce Act of 2000.

The initiative introduces a real time transmission of the Agenda and all matters that has to be considered during the regular sessions of the Sanggunian to the presiding officer, the members of the Provincial Board and to all concerned.

Henceforth, it shall be the standing policy of the provincial board to minimize the use of papers and plastics in the sessions of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Another policy is for the Municipal Sanggunians within Leyte and the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Baybay and all government and non-government entities transacting official business with the Provincial Board shall be required to submit only 1 hard copy and one soft copy in digital format of any document that has bearing with their official transactions.

The third policy, according to Vice Governor Loreto, is for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretariat to send by email or through any electronic mode of transmission, all proposed items in the agenda of the forthcoming session every Thursday of the week to the vice Governor and the Floor Leader.

Thereafter, the Vice Governor or the Floor Leader will email the approved agenda to the Board Members, the SP Secretary and the Governor.

With the paperless system in place, Vice Governor Loreto said, the Sanggunian will be instrumental to the reduction of paper consumption, a significant contribution to environmental advocacy.

He said that the production and use of paper has a number of adverse effects on the environment known collectively as paper pollution. Pulp mills contribute to air, water and land pollution, he said. It also contributes in deforestation, he said.

Moreover, the paperless system will save time and effort in submission of voluminous documents to the Sanggunian. It will also redound to savings for the provincial government, Vice Governor Loreto said.