Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has filed in the 19th Congress various measures aimed at modernizing the bureaucracy to better respond to the challenges of modern times and improve the efficiency, effectiveness and equity of public services, especially to Filipinos who need government attention the most.

Among these measures include Senate Bill No. 194 or the proposed E-Governance Act of 2022, mandating the government to establish an integrated, interconnected, and interoperable information and resource-sharing and communications network spanning the entirety of the national and local government, an internal records management information system, an information database, and digital portals for the delivery of public services.

The measure pushes for the digitization of paper-based and other traditional modes of workflows for a more efficient and transparent public service.

Go stressed that the public must feel that the government is actually and truly at their fingertips, bringing key government services closer to the people.

"Nakita natin ang importansya ng digital transformation in government. Sa private sector, napilitan ang mga negosyo na mag-adopt ng e-commerce techniques para mapabuti ang mga serbisyo nila," the senator noted.

"Lalo na sa gobyerno, there's no better time than now to prioritize the government's digital transformation," he added.

Go likewise reintroduced in the Upper House SBN 1185 or the proposed Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act of 2022. Go noted that the Commonwealth Act of 1940 which provided the mandate of the BI is "an outdated law passed during the American regime."

While amendments have been introduced over the years, Go explained that the immigration system needs to be updated to reflect the present challenges of modern times.

Under the bill, coterminous positions are created for the Office of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners. New positions will also be created under the Directorate for Planning and Research, and Directorate for Human Resources Management and Development.

The creation of new positions under the bill, according to Go, could boost the productivity and efficiency of the BI.

Go also reaffirmed the need to empower barangays, as the country's primary unit of governance, by providing barangay officials more opportunities to develop their capabilities as well as provide them regular pay and other benefits.

This prompted him to refile SBN 197 which would provide for a Magna Carta for Barangays.

"We all know that the barangay and its officials are the immediate provider of frontline services to our fellow countrymen. Sila ang pinakaunang tinatakbuhan ng ating mga kababayan," Go said.

"And it is because of this reason that we have to further improve the barangays and address the woes of our barangay officials," he added.

Under SBN 197, barangay officials will be treated as regular government employees. The Punong Barangay, members of the Sangguniang Barangay, the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson, the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer will be entitled to salaries, emoluments, allowances such as hazard pay, representation and transportation allowance, 13th month pay and other benefits that regular government employees enjoy.

Furthermore, all barangays will enjoy basic priorities, such as construction of at least a facility for drawing drinking water for every 1,000 residents; public transportation by asking government agencies to require public utility companies to provide minimum means of transportation; and at least a kindergarten, an elementary school for every barangay, and a high school for every five kilometers from the barangay center; a health center and a barangay hall.

Under the proposed measure, the barangays' share from various taxes shall also be directly released to them without need for further action. All public funds from the National Treasury for the maintenance of barangay roads and bridges and similar construction works shall also be transferred to the barangays' general fund.

Finally, Go is also pushing for a measure that would provide more resilient, affordable and decent houses to disadvantaged Filipinos across the country.

SBN 426 provides for the National Housing Development, Production and Financing Program which seeks to increase housing production by forging partnerships among relevant stakeholders to address the social housing demands of the Filipino families.

As proposed, the bill shall generate and mobilize funds to guarantee the development of a sustainable, accessible, and affordable housing financing system for the country's informal settlers.

Meanwhile, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and its attached key shelter agencies shall intensify the implementation of the vital components of the NHDPF program.

"Through these measures, it is my hope that the government will be better able to meet the demands of the modern world by delivering improved, efficient, and effective public services to all Filipinos," said Go.

"Kapag naisabatas ang mga ito, hindi na po kailangan lumapit at humingi ng tulong sa iba't ibang ahensya ng gobyerno ang mga tao. Ang gobyerno na ang lumalapit sa tao," he concluded.