Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he wants to digitalize and simplify forms to reduce the number of hours spent by mayors and governors in signing documents.

He said a local chief executive usually devotes three hours a day or 15 hours a week just to sign numerous documents such as contracts, notice of salary adjustment, notice of award, among others.

He recalled that when he was Cavite governor, he once had to sign four copies of the notice of step increment for each of the province’s 4,000 employees. “Dapat matapos ko ‘yun. Pirma lang ng pirma, puwede namang digitized, so we are going in that direction,” he said at an event with local chief executives in Cebu.

During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. directed all government offices to digitalize vital services immediately to facilitate ease of doing business and combat corruption.

The DILG Chief said he wants to simplify the work of local chief executives and make things more systematic and efficient considering their huge workload and the expectations from their constituents. “Kayo ang direct link sa tao, kayo naman ang araw araw nagsisilbi eh. Let’s make our life simpler and lead more effectively,” he said.

According to him, the DILG is now meeting with the Commission on Audit and the Civil Service Commission to devise a program to simplify the process.

“We would come up with a program. By June 30, 2025, ang pirmahin n’yo na 15 hours a week, irereduce natin to one (1) hour a week na lang, by digitalization, simplifying the forms, lahat yan simplified into one hour a week,” Remulla said.

Original Article At: https://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-wants-digitalized-forms-to-reduce-time-spent-by-LCEs-in-signing-docus/NC-2025-1016