Go fully supports ‘Better Normal’ bills
SB 1747, or the ‘Better Normal for the Workplace Communities and Public Spaces Act of 2020,’ and its House counterpart HB 6864, seek to strengthen the synergy between and among national government agencies, local government units and the private sector by defining their roles and responsibilities in the ‘better normal’
Senator and chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher “Bong” Go has presided a public hearing to discuss measures which aim to prepare the country for a “better normal” following the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
In the public hearing, among the bills tackled include Senate Bills (SB) 1792, 1747, 1642 and House Bill (HB) 6864, SB 1747 or the “Better Normal for Sustainable Recovery Act of 2020,” authored by Senator Francis Tolentino, that aims “to provide the creation of protocols and standards that take into account the new normal paradigm brought about by the pandemic.”
Go said SB 1747, or the “Better Normal for the Workplace Communities and Public Spaces Act of 2020,” authored by Senator Sonny Angara, and its House counterpart HB 6864, seek to strengthen the synergy between and among national government agencies, local government units and the private sector by defining their roles and responsibilities in the “better normal.”
Meanwhile, SB 1642, or the “New Normal Act of 2020,” authored by Senator Imee Marcos, seeks “to institute policies for the new normal by providing various programs from health care modernization, to public transportation, to creation of jobs, and promotion of public spaces, among others.”
We should adopt more efficient, responsive and modern ways of transacting with our citizens. This will effectively make the government more in tune to the changing times.
In the committee hearing, government agencies, provincial and city government organizations, as well as other stakeholders and subject-matter experts have expressed their support for the measures.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government, for one, said that it finds no reason to object to the proposed legislative measures as they are consistent with the Constitution.
While the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said they are fully supportive of the measures, “particularly the provisions pertaining to the management of public transport such as the continued use of masks, maintaining social distancing and social contact, payment mechanism all geared towards preventing the spread of Covid-19 virus.”
The Commission on Higher Education also fully supported the proposed bills as it guarantees to ensure smooth transition of students to flexible and online learning. On the other hand, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority said that it submits “its concurrence and approval of the general objectives of the bills.”
The Department of Trade and Industry has also expressed its full support of the proposed bills.
Importance of e-governance
Meanwhile, Go stressed that the necessity for e-governance in the country has been growing in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic, which limits physical mobility and face-to-face transactions among government offices, and between the government and citizens and businesses.
He said that e-governance will bring the government closer to the people in these times through modern platforms.
Following this development, Go has filed SB 1738, or the E-Governance Act of 2020, to further address inefficiencies plaguing the bureaucracy and reduce face to face transactions among others.
The bill mandates the creation of the Integrated Government Network which will act as the primary means for the sharing and communication of resources, information, and data through digital and electronic platforms across all of government. The IGN will serve as the government’s primary and focal information management tool and communications network.
“We should adopt more efficient, responsive and modern ways of transacting with our citizens. This will effectively make the government more in tune to the changing times,” Go said.