Regional council aims for full digitalization by 2028 of all Davao LGUs��

THE REGIONAL Development Council (RDC) of Davao wants all local government units (LGUs) to be digitalized by 2028 to ensure ease of doing business, a key component of the medium-term development plan launched last week.����

“Local government units (LGUs) who will not digitalize their operations, they will be left behind because investments will only come with ease of doing business,” Arturo M. Milan, private sector representative and co-chair of RDC-Davao, said in mixed English and Filipino during the launch of the Davao Regional Development Plan 2023-2028.����

“Easing doing business is really digitalization,” he added.������

He said online transactions support a no-contact policy that promotes good governance as well as lessens business costs and road traffic congestion.������

National Economic and Development Authority-Davao Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim, the RDC vice chair, said local governments must also digitalize to keep up with the national government and the private sector.������

“All national government agencies are also adopting digitalization reforms… This is also replicated not only in government but also in private establishments. By adopting a digital platform, we want to connect our production, also the consumers, to make our economic activities more efficient,” Ms. Lim said.������

Maria Belen Q. Ambi, regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry, said digital transformation is also an important component of measuring the competitiveness of cities and municipalities.����

“Innovation is digitalization,” she said.����

Ms. Lim said one of the key strategies of the medium-term plan is enhancing Davao’s production sector for competitive goods for local and international markets, which will open opportunities for better quality jobs.����

She said the region is also positioning to be an international logistics hub for southern Philippines. — Maya M. Padillo��