The City Government is currently using digitized systems like the Document Tracking System (DTS) and the Treasury Operations Management System (TOMS). DTS is a program created to precisely track incoming and outgoing documents received circulating in all offices. TOMS, on the other hand, is a collection system of the Treasury Office that aims to simplify transactions availed by the public. Under TOMS, residents can file Online Community Tax Certificate and Professional Tax Receipt Application. Other Local Government Units like Bacnotan, La Union and Zamboanga have adapted these successful systems through MOAs. To enhance citizen participation and engage participative governance, the Electronic Participation System (EPS) was also recently launched for citizens to directly address complaints as well as raise ideas for the development of the City. These projects allow better online communication between constituents and the local government making services faster and more convenient for the residents of the City. In terms of local economy and business development, the City has welcomed 34 Business Processing and Outsourcing (BPO’s), one of which is TaskUs that has employed 1,022 local employees. With these innovations, San Fernando City was named as one of the 25 digital cities by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). According to DICT, “Significant changes such as an overall boost in economic growth, increase in employment and commercial activity, and improvement in the quality of lives among communities have been observed in these localities since their recognition as digital cities.” With the combined efforts of the City Government and the San Fernando ICT Council, the city’s active partner in promoting and making San Fernando a potential ICT hub, our commitment to bring our services closer to the people is possible. Story and photo: Clifford Mercado (Know more about the Digital Cities here: http://bit.ly/DigitalCitiesPH)