‘SMART CITY’: City Hall starts to go digital with new info kiosk

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

A NEW digital information kiosk was installed at the ground floor of the Iloilo City Hall to provide the public with a better and faster experience in their transactions with the city government.

Information Systems Office officer-in-charge Francis Cruz said the touch-screen information kiosk is equipped with data of all services and transactions in the City Hall such as permit requirements and corresponding payments.

“Para ina sa aton pumuluyo kon may kinahanglan sila halimbawa nga birth certificate, tum-ukon nila kag mabal-an nila din sila makadto, kag pila ila balaydan ukon requirement,” he told Daily Guardian in a phone interview on Friday.

With the digital information kiosk, Cruz said that the usual transacting time of the residents of the metro will definitely be shorter and far more convenient.

“Kay ina para madali man sa aton pumuluyo, we really need to come up with information para sa ila nga transaction sa siyudad kag para sa ila mabal-an nila kon diin sila makadto,” he said.

According to Cruz, the installation of the digital kiosk is part of the goal of the city to become a “Smart City” in the coming years.

“Sang una gapanghatag lang ta leaflets, subong medyo high-tech na ta, amo na nga mangin digital na ta subong,” he stressed.

In fact, Cruz revealed that the information kiosk is just a start of the many digital services that they are about to introduce under the “Smart City” direction.

“Subong we are looking into a mobile application nga pwede kamo kabayad sang tax sa inyo nga mga telepono,and anything  that would make transactions or dealing with the city government easier, faster, less time consuming,” he said.

“Smart City” means utilizing the use of science and technology and innovation to deliver good governance and services to the public.

Faster transactions with the city government would not only benefit the residents but also future investors, he stressed.

As of now, Cruz said they are still making necessary updates on the digital information kiosk but they hope to launch it within the week.